I have actually had chapter 1 and most of this chapter sat in my documents folder for a while and couldn't be assed putting it online, After starting to READ fanfiction recently I decided to keep working on this one. The next chapter will be another short one then chapter 4 will be quite a bit longer. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.

Chapter 2 – Christmas surprise

It's half past one in the afternoon, after finishing opening their presents Lelouch and Nunally had made their way to the Fenette household, however after a few wrong turns they were already half an hour late. As they moved away from the city center towards the suburbs the snow on the ground began to cause some problems for Nunally's wheelchair. They came to a halt about 400 meters from their destination.

"Well damn, your wheelchair looks like it's about to be written off, we will need to get you a new one later today." Said Lelouch cursing his luck.

"don't worry Lelouch" said Nunally trying to calm him down. "I'm sure it will all work out in the end."

Fortune seemed to smile upon them when a friendly stranger drove up beside them and asked "Hey are you two ok?"

"Not really" replied Lelouch. "her wheelchair is busted and we need to get to 38 Anderson drive."

"Oh, well hop in, I'll give you two a lift." said the stranger

"Really?" asked Lelouch

"Sure here let me help you get the lady in." said the man. "I'm Joseph by the way, nice to meet you."

"Lelouch, and this is my sister Nunally." replied Lelouch.

"It is a pleasure to meet you mister" Said Nunally.

The two lifted Nunally up and placed her in the back seat of his car. Joseph also took the wheelchair folded it up and placed it in the boot. The two then sat in the front of the car and they set off. Before long they arrived at the front door of the house. Lelouch went up and rang the doorbell as Joseph helped Nunally out of the car. A woman appeared in the doorway.

"Hello there, you must be Lelouch it is nice to meet you" Said the woman, "I'm Mary, Shirley's mother."

"It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am" replied Lelouch.

Joseph then took Nunally inside, and sat her on the sofa in the living room. Shirley came down the stairs saying "Lulu, it's been half an hour since you were supposed to be here, what was the hold-up." Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs she looks through the open double doors leading to their living room. "Welcome back, daddy."

"Wait a second, "daddy"?" said Lelouch just finally piecing it together.

"That's right Lelouch, The name is Joseph Fenette, Shirley's father." said Joseph, chuckling.

Mary closed the door and came back to the living room to give her husband a kiss. "I can't believe you had to work on Christmas, half day or not" Said Mary.

"Well you can't exactly say no when you are working under the viceroy." Joseph replied.

They day went on, at two pm they had a roast turkey dinner, when Lelouch was feeding Nunally, Joseph jokingly asked if Shirley was feeling jealous earning him a slap from his red faced daughter.

"It really was quite a shock when Shirley asked if she could have some friends join us." said Mary

"We are really sorry to impose on you like this, they closed the dorms today so we had to be out at noon." replied Lelouch.

"Oh it's no bother at all my boy, the more the merrier." Said Joseph. "I was a bit worried about the boy my daughter had as her phone wallpap-" A mouthful of turkey being forced into his mouth by his daughter silenced Joseph.

"Oh my Shirley, since when have you been so violent." Said Mary, also taking the chance to pick on her daughter.

"This is the worst." Said Shirley her head falling into her hands.

"I dunno, this turned out to be more fun than I was expecting." Lelouch said trying to raise her spirits a little.

"Lelouch is right, your family is so much fun." Said Nunally sweetly.

"Thanks guys" Replied Shirley. "Anyway why is it that you can't spend Christmas with your own parents?"

The pair looked visibly uncomfortable with the question

"It's" Started Lelouch "Complicated" he finished. "That's putting it mildly at least."

After dinner They were watching the emperors speech on the TV, Joseph and Mary were sat on the smaller couch and Lelouch, Nunally and Shirley were sat on the larger one. Nunally was feeling tired and dozed off whilst the emperor was going on about lost loved ones or something. She began falling and ended up resting on Shirley's shoulder. Lelouch looked ready to burst with jealousy.

"Well then, Lelouch, would you mind helping me out in the garage for a bit, that wheelchair of yours seems like it's falling apart and could probably use a bit of TLC if it is going to get you pair back to the dorms." Said Joseph standing up.

"Really, you know how to fix it?" Said Lelouch in shock.

"Well fix is a strong word, but I do know a thing or two about keeping machinery in working order". Joseph replied.

The pair stepped out of the room and made their way to the garage.

"So when are you planning on telling him?" Mary asked her daughter.

"What?" asked Shirley, confused by her mothers sudden question.

"It's pretty obvious you have quite a big crush on that boy, and I can see why, he does have quite the princely aura about him." Mary replied, taunting her daughter.

"Mom please just drop this." Shirley said desperately trying to avoid having a conversation about it.

"Alright, I'll drop it, but I can't speak for your father." Mary said with a smirk on her face.

Shirley moved to get up but stopped herself, right now Nunally was using her as a pillow, she would not be able to move until she woke up.

In the Garage

"So Lelouch" Joseph started, as he took some metal polish, some lubricating oil and a screwdriver from his shelf. "What do you think of my daughter?"

"W-w-well, she is a great person, always very cheery." Lelouch replied trying not to shoot himself in the foot.

"Not exactly what I mean but I'll take it." said Joseph, Lelouch knew what and how he meant what he said he was just trying to be careful. "Alright lets have a look at these wheels." Said Joseph opening up the wheelchair. It was a pretty simple model. Very minimalist, just how Joseph liked it. "Ok we are going to need to tighten the screws here, and oil up this bit, could you pass me the oil Lelouch?" Joseph asked as he spun the wheel a little, it squeaked quite loudly.

As the pair worked away doing maintenance on the wheelchair. Lelouch asked "So are you a mechanic or something in the government?"

"No, not a mechanic, I'm a scientist by trade, but an engineer at heart." Joseph replied with a chuckle. "Been working for the viceroy on a secret project for the past year or so, made quite a few breakthroughs so we are being invited to a new years party hosted by the viceroy himself."

"really, that is quite impressive" Replied Lelouch for someone of common birth to be working so closely with the viceroy this secret project of his must be very important, a new kind of knightmare perhaps?

"That gives me an idea, we get to bring three people along, and naturally my family will be coming with me but perhaps you could join us as Shirley's date?" Joseph asked.

"WHAT?" yelled Lelouch.

"Well the viceroy is a well known philanderer and he will no doubt set his sights on my Shirley if she is alone at the party, so I figured if she had a man with her then it might dissuade him somewhat." Said Joseph.

"Well when you put it like that it does seem like a far more reasonable request" replied Lelouch.

"And besides it's not everyday you get a girl's father ASKING you to take his daughter." Joked Joseph.

"And we are back on awkward avenue." said Lelouch his face going red.

The pair had finished working on the wheelchair and it looked good as new. Unfortunately though there was not enough room in the house for Nunally to try it out so they would need to wait until they got back to the dorms but none the less it was quite an improvement on the wreck they got the the house in. Joseph and Lelouch made their way back into the living room and sat down to watch some more TV.

At about quarter to 9 Lelouch and Nunally said their goodbyes to the Fenette family, Joseph was going to give them a lift back to the dorms since it was already dark out. As Joseph was out helping Nunally into the car, Lelouch was saying his goodbyes to the ladies.

"Thank you very much for having us." Lelouch said bowing his head.

"Oh not a problem you were both wonderful company. I'm looking forward to new years" Said Mary.

"What do you mean mom?" Asked Shirley.

"Didn't dad tell you, Lelouch will be joining us at the party." Said Mary, her voice sounded sweet but her face looked quite intimidating. "having a boy with you will keep the viceroy from putting his hands on our precious daughter he says"

"Well I'll see you on the 31st" said Lelouch moving to leave.

"Ahem" Mary coughed as Lelouch opened the door, Shirley just an inch behind him, preparing to close it behind him. The pair looked up and say some Mistletoe hanging above the door. This was the same spot that Shirley's parents kissed earlier today. Both the teenager's faces went very red. Shirley pecked Lelouch on the cheek "Merry Christmas Lulu." She said as she pushed him out the door and closed it behind him. Lelouch fell backwards and landed in the snow he looked up at the now closed door shocked.

BANG BANG "Come on Lelouch lets get going." Yelled Joseph from the car. Lelouch got in and they set off for the dorms. When Lelouch and Nunally got back to their room, Lelouch put Nunally to bed then went to bed himself, however he could not sleep "What on earth was she thinking?" Lelouch asked himself over and over again, the image of the red faced Shirley moments before she pushed him out the door. This was going to be a long night for him indeed.