Ten Lords a-Leaping

"Merry Christmas, Bolly."

Alex's eyes opened slowly. She could feel the cold air on her shoulder where the duvet had slipped and smell Gene's aftershave looming close to her. Slowly his face came into view, a dusting of stubble across his chin and his chest on display.

"I don't remember unwrapping you," she mumbled, gradually waking up.

"Had to unwrap meself, state of you when you rolled in last night," Gene told her but Alex rolled her eyes.

"How would you know, you were already asleep," she pointed out and Gene looked slightly annoyed.

"I wore meself out wrapping spoons," he told her, "and anyway, I was just having a guess." He shuffled back as Alex rolled over to face him properly and propped herself up on her elbow. "So you survived the twelve gays of Christmas then?"

"If you have to put it like that," Alex sighed, rolling her eyes again.

"You not been welded to her metal highness then?" Gene asked, somewhat disgruntled.

"You gave me the mistletoe," Alex reminded him in a slightly sing-song voice.

"Don't suppose you ran into a Spice Girl or two in that club did you?" Gene asked hopefully.

"Only Nicey-Spice," Alex sighed. She waited for the rest of Gene's probing. It had to come. Sure enough after a pulling the face of someone who'd been dining on lemons all day Gene finally asked,

"So what's it like? Giving lip service to a robot?"

Alex wasn't going to rise to it.

"I give it ten out of ten," she told him.

"She hasn't rusted over then?" Gene asked.

"No," Alex sighed.

"And you made it back without lumps of metal shoved through every limb?"

Alex froze. She bit her lip and eyes Gene a little guiltily.

"S-sort of," she said.

Gene frowned at her.

"She's pierced yer arse, hasn't she?" he said, "I don't believe this, wasn't me prodigal son enough? I don't need more pierced derrieres in the vicinity!"

"She did not pierce my arse!" Alex cried indignantly, "I'm not even sure if that's possible!"

"Shoebury's sure."

Alex found herself blushing.

"Yes, well," she said awkwardly, "Simon seems to be growing more fond of the needle."

"He hasn't got a Prince Albert, has he?!" Gene cried in horror and Alex closed her eyes.

"Not as far as I'm aware," she sighed.

Gene hesitated as he looked at her slightly guilty expression.

"I wasn't asking about Shoebury's metal anyway," he recalled, "What's she pierced? Can't see a nose ring so I don't have to drag you to market with a rope through yer conk."

"Gene!"

"So where is it?"

Alex felt herself pulling her silk pyjama top across her chest a little closer.

"Erm," she began, "maybe you should ask where they are.'"

Gene looked at her guilty expression. Then his eyes dropped to her chest. He could see something slightly unusual.

"Yer nipples don't look the right shape," he mumbled, slightly tripping over his tongue.

"Erm," Alex blushed.

"Better get them out, Bols," Gene told her, "Need to inspect the handiwork."

Chewing slightly nervously on the side of her tongue, Alex sat upright and very slowly began to unfasten her pyjamas, from the bottom button upwards until it fell away and slipped down her arms. Gene's eyes fixed upon her bare chest; the new silver bars through her nipples catching the light as she gave a little involuntary wriggle to show off her new piercings.

"Well?" she asked, somewhere between nervously and boastfully. She looked down to her own body, still not used to her new additions.

Gene spluttered slightly.

"Well," he repeated.

Alex watched his expression.

"Do you like them or…?"

Gene coughed.

"I think I could learn to navigate them," he told her.

"Well that's good to know," Alex told him. She absently reached up and brushed a finger across one of her piercings. It was a little tender but not bad at all. "So do you…" she bit her lip, "fancy taking them on their maiden voyage?"

Gene considered for all of two seconds.

"I'll get the ruddy map," he told her and dived in to explore the new terrain.

~xXx~

"Morning."

Kim shuffled a little and muttered into her pillow as Robin's voice gently woke her.

"Hmm?" she mumbled, opening her eyes.

"Happy Christmas."

Kim looked up and found Robin climbing into bed, a tray in his hands. The smell of food roused her senses and suddenly she was wide awake.

"Merry Christmas," she said, rubbing her eyes and hauling herself up.

"Breakfast in bed," Robin told her, placing the tray on her lap, "I thought you could do with something substantial after last night."

"How would you even know about last night when you got in two hours after me, sang a song about feet and passed out in the kitchen?" Kim asked, one eyebrow rising.

Robin looked somewhat guilty.

"Yeah… we might have gotten onto shots at one point," he said.

"You seem to be managing your hangover alright," Kim pointed out and Robin rubbed his forehead.

"I've been up for an hour making breakfast," he admitted awkwardly, "plenty of time for the alka seltzer to start working.

"Ahh, I see," Kim smiled.

Robin collected his own tray from the floor and climbed back into bed. He turned to Kim and leaned forward, kissing her with a smile. He felt a strange tingle through his body as he thought about the fact that he and Kim were actually together for Christmas. So many times it had seemed like this would never happen. He was going to appreciate every last second.

"How's your head?" he asked, skimming her forehead briefly with his fingers.

"I'm fine," Kim told him, "We didn't have very much to drink."

"Had other things on your mind?" Robin asked cheekily and Kim looked down, smiling and blushing. "What's happening to your face?" he asked, somewhat accusingly, "it's not… it can't be… can Kim Stringer be going shy?!"

"Not if you want me to leave al your limbs intact," Kim told him sweetly and Robin pulled a face.

"Alright," he said, "so… Alex then."

Kim narrowed her eyes.

"What about her.?"

"Scores out of ten?"

"You should know," Kim pointed out and Robin cringed.

"Am I never living that down?" he groaned.

"No."

Robin's cringe turned into a little smile.

"You wound me up about Jake, I'm just getting you back," he said.

"How about waiting until after breakfast?" Kim suggested.

"Sounds good to me," Robin agreed.

Kim smiled to herself as she turned to the grand breakfast before her and sipped her coffee. She felt so warm, so contented, so loved. The year had been the worst of her life, so incredibly hard. She wasn't over the traumas that she'd survived but her mind had pulled down the shutters on them, for a day at least. She smiled at the man beside her, never for a moment taking for granted that they were back together. Despite the difficult December and the terrible year she was going to make the most of every moment of their Christmas day.

~xXx~

Shaz smiled as she watched Marci's hair tumble over her shoulder while she stirred. She ran her fingers lightly along the dark curls that tumbled across the pillow before her and saw her slowly open her eyes. There had been no time for taking off make-up the night before so smears of black and green gathered around her eyes. Regardless, the waking Marci was the most beautiful sight Shaz had ever seen.

"Good morning," she smiled.

Marci's face slowly cracked into a smile in return.

"Morning, you," she said. She started to prop herself up on her elbow to match Shaz's position and smiled, "how long have you been looking at me like that?" she accused.

"Only ten minutes," Shaz smiled.

"I'm not breakfast TV you know," Marci told her but she was smiling too.

"Shame," said Shaz, "I'd quite like to wake up to you every morning." She saw Marci grinning, a little embarrassed by the comment. "Aw, don't tell me you're shy," Shaz taunted then squealed as Marci grasped her wrists and turned her around, throwing her back against the pillows as she pinned her down and beamed.

"Not so shy now," she said, closing her eyes and lowering her lips onto Shaz's for a kiss. She opened them again and looked at the trapped, giggling woman beneath her. "Merry Christmas, Shazza."

Shaz smiled with a sparkle in her eyes.

"Mary Christmas, Marci," she said happily.

As Marci decided to release her suspect they snuggled up together and pulled the duvet around them.

"It's bloody cold in your flat today," Marci complained.

"Must have forgotten to turn the heating on last night," said Shaz, "I'll go and do it now."

"No you won't," Marci grabbed Shaz before she could leave, resulting in another round of giggles. The two girls smiled at one another and Shaz brushed a curl from Marci's face.

"Are you spending the day with family?" she asked and to her surprise Marci's face fell a little.

"Nah," she said quietly, "haven't got any around here any more."

Shaz looked a little nervous.

"Sorry Marci," she said quietly. She wondered if she'd put her foot in it, "You never talk about them… I didn't know."

Marci shrugged a little, looking away.

"Well my parents are gone," she said bluntly, "one's dead, the other might as well be."

Shaz's brow creased up.

"God," she said quietly, "sorry."

"My brother doesn't live near here," Marci found herself playing with the corner of the duvet as a distraction, "and we don't exactly speak anyway."

"Sorry," Shaz said again.

"I usually spend days like this with Jake," she said, "I'll be going round at lunch. Get all the gossip from yesterday," she finally broke back into a grin with Shaz copying her expression.

"Make sure you share all the gory details," she said.

"Oh, I will," Marci reassured her. She nuzzled against Shaz's chest and closed her eyes. "I wish I could spend the day with you," she pouted.

Shaz sighed deeply.

"Wish I could spend it with you, babe," she said.

Marci looked up.

"We could, you know," she said, "you could come with me to Jake's. We'll have a ton of food, a box of crackers –"

Shaz gave a slightly disappointed smile.

"I wish I could," she said, "but I go to my mum's every Christmas. Can't wait for it, babe. Slap up lunch."

"Yeah, you probably wouldn't want to be there at Jake's for that," Marci wrinkled up her nose, "not after the chicken disaster."

Shaz recalled the day of the disastrous roast and cringed.

"I haven't looked at a chicken since," she stated.

"Makes two of us," Marci groaned. She sighed deeply. "Still wish you could come though."

"Me too," Shaz shuffled out from beneath Marci. "How about boxing day?" she asked, "are you going anywhere tomorrow?"

"Only as far as the lounge, with my duvet and a bunch of videos," said Marci.

"Make that a double duvet," Shaz smiled, "I'll even bring wine."

"Best offer I've had," Marci told her.

Shaz grinned, but gave a little shiver as the cold air started to get to her.

"I've got to put the central heating on," she said, "Sorry Marci." She climbed out of bed, her shiny blouse undone and hanging loosely from her shoulders.

"Noooooo," Marci whined.

"I won't be long," Shaz told her, bending over to pick up her underwear and mooning at Marci.

"Cheeky cow," Marci squealed, brushing a hand across her cheeks. Shaz giggled as she pulled on her knickers and trotted from the room, wiggling her backside provocatively to make Marci laugh. "Wait until you get back in bed, missus," she warned, "better call your mum and tell her you'll be late for dinner!"

But a few moments later Shaz returned looking somewhat disgruntled.

"No need, babe," she sighed as she climbed back on bed, "I had a message on my answerphone. Mum's got the flu, dinner's off."

Marci's face fell at the sight of Shaz's disappointment.

"Oh no," she sighed, "Shaz, I'm sorry."

Shaz slipped back into bed and cuddled up to Marci before cringing.

"And I forgot the bloody central heating,"

"Doesn't matter, I'll keep you warm," Marci told her.

"You were the one complaining!"

"You can keep me warm then!"

The two of them fell silent as they snuggled, warmed one another and contemplated the day. Shaz felt a deep sadness inside of her.

"I don't know what to do now," she said, "I always go to my mum for Christmas. It doesn't feel right now." She closed her eyes. "what else am I going to do?"

Marci ran her fingers through Shaz's dark brown bob and looked at her.

"You could still come with me to Jake's?" she said. "I know it doesn't make up for missing out on seeing your family but it'll be fun and at least you won't be left with nowhere to go," she moved back a little and smiled, "besides, I'll get to spend the day with you."

"Wouldn't Jake mind?" Shaz asked, feeling like she was intruding but Marci shook her head.

"It's not like we make a big deal of it," Marci told her, "besides, ever since the day we joined Fenchurch East we've lived in each other's pockets, it would feel weirder if you weren't there." She saw Shaz giving a more excitable smile but she still seemed a little nervous. "Give me your phone, I'll call him and see."

Shaz hesitated, just for a second, then leapt out of bed and ran for the cordless. She brought it back to bed and dived under the covers.

"I put the heating on this time," she said as she snuggled back into Marci while she tapped out a number on the phone. As she waited for Jake to answer the call she looked at her girlfriend and smiled. It had been a difficult year and one of many changes but now she felt happy and content. A little love went a long way.

~xXx~

Jake mumbled a few things into his pillow and awoke with a giant snort. His first thought was that someone was attacking him with a pneumatic drill. Then he realised the phone was ringing at the same time as his hangover started to kick off. He groaned and slowly sat up, rubbing his forehead. Shit, he rarely even drank that much with Marci. Being with Robin wasn't going to be good for his head.

"Or my wallet," he mumbled, trying to work out how many shots he'd bought. When he worked out how to focus enough to find his phone he reached put and grabbed it before it had a chance to ring out. Bringing it to his ear, he yawned a little. "Hello?"

"Jake, it's me," Marci sounded far too bright for that time in the morning.

"Hello, me," Jake mumbled.

"Blimey, you sound rough."

Jake cringed a little.

"You're always the voice of tact, Marci," he groaned.

"Sorry."

Jake tried to work out what was happening.

"What are you ringing so early for?" he asked, "I thought you weren't coming until lunchtime."

"I'm not," Marci confirmed, "I've got a favour to ask. We both have.

"Both?" Jake paused and then raised an eyebrow, despite setting off a thunderous wave of pain in his head. "Ahhhh, this would be you and Shaz?" he asked, "you're not bailing on me, are you? Not off to meet the parents already?"

"No, more like the opposite," he heard Marci sigh, "Poor Shaz, her Christmas dinner is cancelled. Her mum's got the flu."

"Oh dear."

"So I don't suppose –"

"You want her to come round here?" Jake hesitated, "I'm not sure she'll want to, after the last time I cooked for you both."

"I suffer it every year and I'm still alive," Marci teased.

Jake rubbed his temples. It was too early and too painful to think about this.

"I'm not sure the food will go round," he said.

"I'll bring extra," Marci offered.

Jake rubbed his eye and sighed. It wasn't as though Christmas was particularly special to him, the extra company wouldn't go amiss but he wasn't sure Shaz would be satisfied with the pseudo-Christmas dinner he and Marci prepared every year. Still, if she had nowhere else to go –

"Sure," he said eventually, "as long as she understands that I am going to spoil the ending of any films we watch."

"You always do," he could almost hear Marci smiling on the line and he gave a gentle laugh.

"Alright," he said, "I'll see you both later. Mind coming closer to one than twelve?"

"Sure, shy?"

Jake groaned.

"I need time to stick the shards of my skull back together."

He heard Marci giggle.

"Good night then?"

"From what I can remember."

Marci laughed again.

"I'll leave you to raid the alka seltzer then." She said, "see you later, Jake."

"Bye, Marci," he said and ended the call with a sigh. He sat in bed for a moment, the throbbing of his head distracting him from the festive nature if the day. His eyes were fixed on the phone as he thought about his family, what was left of it, far away. He always felt as though he went through the motions with no real reason or feeling behind it. It was a duty that had to be performed, just like he had to wash his clothes or do the shopping. Sighing, he switched the phone back on and pressed one of the memory pre-sets. It rang several times before a voice answered.

"Hi Ros, is dad there?" He paused and listened, his face falling as he did so. "Oh. OK." He swallowed and stared at the pattern on the duvet. "Bit early isn't it? …Oh, I see. Well I hope he has a good time." He sighed. "Tell him I called to wish him a merry Christmas." He hesitated as his step mother began to speak. "What? …Yeah, Marci's coming. Yeah, we'll try not to, I'm still suffering from last night." He gave a half-hearted smile and a laugh as she spoke again. "Yeah. Not too bad. …Pardon? Oh, yeah, I have actually," finally his smile was genuine, "his name's Robin. …No, I haven't made him up! Cheek of it!" He laughed again but it was tinged with sadness. "OK. OK, Ros. Don't forget to tell him I called. …Thanks. Same to you."

He stared at the duvet as he ended the call and swallowed. Another well-meant moment that came to nothing. It had never really felt as though he'd had a family. Although as he looked at the collage of photographs of himself and Marci through the years that hung on his wall a little of his smile returned. Family was about more than genes. Sometimes it was more about the people in your heart than the blood that ran through it.