Sorry this is so late but I explained earlier on my Tumblr why that is, honestly surprised that I'm even able to upload this. It was a rushed job and I am dead tired so if there are any mistakes please let me know and I'll try and fix them as soon as I can. Also, I hope you don't mind a bit of Raf/Fletch. I just really wanted to write something for them because they're like my guilty pleasure couple right now. If you're not that into it though and you just want me to stick with Berena and Jasia that's cool too, just let me know and I'll just keep to the two of them in the future. Oops this got a bit long, just wanted to update you all.

Snow fell lightly from the sky, covering the world below in a powdery white blanket. The street lamps beamed a soft, warm light as couples strolled down the pathway and carolers sang in the distance, the line of houses twinkling with Christmas light.

Zap!

"Ow! For fuck sake!"

Except for one house.

Raf exhaled, watching from the end of the driveway as Fletch fumbled around with his Christmas lights, his violent cursing breaking the tranquillity of the night. Mikey standing behind him near the front steps of the house, barely flinched as something heavy crashed and Fletch screeched, "Son of a bitch!"

The other kids were in the house after rejecting the offer to help, he didn't really blame them, to be honest. He thought it would make things easier if it was just the two of them sorting out the Christmas decorations but it turned out Fletcher was just as useless.

Mikey had joined them outside, but he wasn't really helping much. Just watching and laughing whenever something went wrong, which was about every five minutes.

Raf closed his eyes, releasing a sigh. Every damn year…

I'm cold, " Mikey shivered. "How much longer?"

"Hard to say." Raf turned his head to glance back at the eight-year-old. "Just give it a little more time, okay, buddy? You know how much your Dad wants to do this."

"But how much longer?" Mikey complained, shuffling forward to hug Raf's side. "I'm really cold, Da— Raf." Mikey almost slipped and called Raf Dad but Raf wouldn't mind if he did. They were basically a family already.

"I know, but—"

"Oh, come on!" Fletcher shouted, kicking something with the toe of his boot.

"Stupid—son of a—ugh!"

"Ra—a—af…" Mikey groaned.

"Five more minutes, okay? I'm sure he'll have it all figured…" Raf trailed off, seeing the sleek black car pulling into the driveway next door. Oh. Great. That's just fucking great.

Those snobby fucking pricks were back. All he had to do was ignore them and hope to god they just went inside without saying anything.

"Oh, dear," Mark said in a clearly audible voice, holding the door open as his wife stepped out of the car. "Sarah, look at that. The neighbours are trying to blow up the house again."

"Didn't they do that last year?"

"And the year before that one, too…You'd think they'd gotten tired of it, by now."

Raf clenched his jaw, his fingers squeezing a little tighter around Mikey's shoulder.

Mark cleared his throat. "Oi, Di Lucca!" he called, raising his voice as though he hadn't intended for Raf to hear everything he'd just said. "You ever consider hiring a few professionals to do that for you?"

Raf forced a laugh, refusing to look over to him. "That's all right, I think we can manage."

Fletcher yelped as the lights zapped him again.

Raf lived and breathed as much Christmas as was humanly possible, with four kids in the house that was just how it is. Okay, he could be a little bit of a scrooge sometimes but for the most part, he was happy to be so involved with Christmas. There was nothing like watching a child opening their presents on Christmas morning. It warmed his whole body, and made him feel grateful that he had this family.

Those probably-Armani-suit-or-whatever-wearing idiots had absolutely no right to judge him or Fletch.

"Raf, it's been five minutes," Mikey said, tugging at his arm. "Can we go now? I'm cold." The boy pouted, looking up at his second Dad.

"Looks like you better get that boy inside," Mark advised, Sarah murmuring in agreement.

Raf narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw, trying to control his anger towards those arrogant pricks.

"You know what?" Raf swung around to look at Mikey. "Go tell your Dad to bring you in for hot chocolate or something, okay?"

Mikey whirled around as Fletch hurled a round of lights at the wall, and turned back with a worried expression. "But what about—?"

"I will take care of the lights," Raf cut in. "Just go tell him, okay?"

Mikey nodded, and set off at a run. Raf watched as Mikey ran towards Emma. He moved his hands around as he relayed the message, pointing at Raf, then the house, shivering all the while. Fletch glanced up at Raf, his brow furrowed questioningly.

He gave a little shrug, and nodded.

Fletch blinked in surprise; he touched Mikey's shoulder and said something, nodding toward the house, before turning back to Raf, staring at him in wonder.

Raf blew out a breath as he started toward him, his hands spread in bewilderment.

"Raf—?"

"I know," he sighed.

"Mikey told me—"

"I know."

"But you —"

"Fletch," he said exasperatedly, gripping him by the shoulders. "Look, you're not getting anywhere with these stupid lights, just let me do it, okay?"

Fletcher furrowed his brow. "Are you sure?" he asked. "I thought you hated my Christmas lights."

"You're going to get your idiotic arse electrocuted, in another five minutes," Raf told him. "I'm afraid to leave you alone with them, and Mikey's bored, so…" He glanced over his head, looking at the half-decorated house, strung with tangled lights and frayed wires. "I'll take care of it."

Fletcher broke out into a relieved smile. "You will?"

Raf nodded tiredly.

Fletcher grinned and threw his arms around Raf's neck to give him a quick hug.

"Thanks, mate. You're the best."

"Yeah, well..."

"No, seriously... you're the best. A literal life saver."

Fletch smirked, remembering the amount of times he'd just been shocked by those stupid fucking wires.

"Alright, now give me some room. I need to sort these fucking lights out don't I?" Raf spoke amusedly, tapping Fletch on the shoulder before walking over to the mess that Fletch made.

Fletcher just smiled and walked back into the house to make them all cups of hot chocolate.