,Twelve days of Christmas
Disclaimer: New Tricks isn't mine, Sigh..
Day twelve; Saturday, A Partridge in a Pear Tree
"Meeooow!"
Sandra opened her eyes to find herself face to face with a large orange ball of fur, making a noise like a drill and vibrating like an engine.
"Do you think that's cat for 'merry christmas'?" She rolled onto her back and found Robert watching her, his head propped up on one arm, he smiled at her. "Merry Christmas sweetheart." He brushed the hair back from her face and gave her the most incedible good morning kiss yet. She returned the kiss with equal passion.
"Meeeeoooowwww!"
"I think it's actually cat for 'get your asses out of bed and feed me!'" Sandra corrected him, making him laugh.
"Your probably right. You stay put, I'll sort out the ginger pest, shall I bring us some coffee back up?" He asked her, getting out of bed. She watched him stretch his shoulders and grinned, she shook her head.
"Just hurry back. I'll be waiting." She told him, her voice low. He smiled impishly at her.
"Back in a tick." He didn't even pause to put his robe on, "Herman! Come on."
The cat jumped off the bed and followed Robert out of the room, Sandra sighed. At this moment her life was just about perfect. She heard Robert moving about in the kitchen, then the tap running, then she heard him coming back up the stairs. She couldn't help but admire the view as he came back into the bedroom. She pulled back the bed covers, inviting him to rejoin her, an invitation he wasn't about to refuse.
"It's quite chilly this morning." He told her, sliding back under the covers along side her.
"Let me help you warm up." She whispered in his ear, as she kissed along his jawline, his light stubble tickling her lips. She sighed as he wrapped his arms around her, his hands on her back, one sliding up to her shoulders, the other migrating downwards, caressing her bottom, they shared a bone-melting kiss. Suddenly, Sandra's mobile started to ring, the shrill tone cutting through the moment. She groaned, and reached over to see who it was.
"I bet it's your Mother." Robert whispered, as his lips nibbled at her ear lobe. She looked at the display and closed her eyes as she realised he was right. She knew her Mum would just keep trying until she answered, so she took a deep breath and pressed the 'accept' icon.
"Morning Mum, Happy Christmas." She tried to sound as normal as she could, which was difficult, as Robert had moved from her ear, and was now using his talented tongue and lips on her breasts.
"At last, I thought you had left the country, I've been trying your flat for the last half hour. Where are you?"
"I'm, aaahhh, I'm... " She couldn't seem to form words, as Robert used his talented mouth to tease her, his hand moving south, causing her to lose the ability to link two words together. "I'm.. Can I call you back?"
"Sandra, what on earth is wrong?"
"Nothing at all! I'm just a bit busy at this momeeeent." Her voice went up an octave as he caressed her special spot.
"Sandra, you are not making sense. Are you drunk?"
"Noooooo Mum," He was driving her insane, "Later!" She hit the disconnect button, and dropped the phone back onto the bedside table, before turning her attention on the man who had pushed her to the brink of madness.
"That wasn't funny!" She tried her best to sound annoyed, which was difficult when he was turning her bones to jelly.
"I can stop." He murmered.
"Oh God! Don't you dare. Just get up here and finish what you started." She demanded, smiling as he reclaimed her lips and took her to the edge of reason.
A little while later, they lay sated in each other's arms, her head pillowed on his chest, she could hear his heart as it returned to it's normal pace, she lazily traced patterns on his chest with her fingers as he brushed light butterfly kisses across her forehead with his lips.
"I should call Mum back." She murmered, "Let her know we'll be coming to see her later."
"Are you going to tell her about us?"
"Of course. I can't wait. I'll have to give her the phone number for here since I'll be living here." She peeked at his face to see his reaction, his eyes sparkled as he realised she was agreeing to move in with him. She hadn't given him a definitive answer the evening before, they had enjoyed a lovely evening at Esther and Brian's, eating a wonderful meal, then exchanging gifts, she had been so glad when she saw that there were a couple for Robert. They had got home quite late and gone straight to bed, if not straight to sleep. She wondered if they would ever get tired of sleeping together, it seemed that every chance they got they ended up making love, she just couldn't get enough of him. "Though when I move in, do you think we'll get too used to each other, like an old married couple.?" He gave her a look which spoke volumes to her, it was full of a depth of love she had never known, his blue eyes shone as he placed his hands either side of her face and kissed her, he drew back and held her gaze.
"I will never stop worshipping every moment we have together. We have eight years of wasted time to make up for, I will never get tired of making love to you. And if you ever feel too tired, or are pissed at me for something I've done at work, and that will happen at some point," he smiled, "then at those times I will be content to hold you. But I guarantee I will never get tired of loving you." He told her solemnly. Her heart swelled at his words.
"I have to admit, I'm quite looking forward to our first argument. I want to see how much fun making up is."
"Well, we've got to go and see your Mother later, we may get the chance." She punched him on the shoulder playfully.
"Go! Have a shower, I'll call Mum. If your still in there when I've finished, I may join you." She laughed.
"I'll shave first then." He replied. He got out of bed and made his way to the bathroom. Sandra watched him go, making sure he had actually left the room and couldn't distract her again, before picking up her mobile. She dialled her Mum's number and braced herself. It had only rung once before it was answered.
"Sandra? What on earth was that all about?"
"Sorry Mum, I was right in the middle of something when you phoned."
"Yes. I could tell. Where are you?"
"I'm at Robert's." She waited for the cogs to start turning.
"Who's Robert? Sandra Pullman, don't tell me you have a boyfriend. How long have you been keeping this from me?"
"It's only been a little over a week Mum, and I'm telling you now. We're going to come and see you later anyway, so you'll be able to pass judgement in person."
"A week! And you're already staying over at his place. That's a little bit fast isn't it?" Sandra wanted to laugh out loud, she loved it when she knew something her Mum didn't. It didn't happen very often, Grace Pullman had a really irritating habit of knowing absolutely everything about her business before she knew it herself.
"Actually, I'm going to move in. I'll give you his home number when we visit."
"Move in! Sandra, that really is a bit quick?" This time she did laugh.
"Oh Mum! We've known each other for eight years. It's Robert Strickland."
"Oh! Oh well that's different. He is very handsome. And tall and dark to complete the collection. And he has excellent manners. I always hoped something would happen between you two. I'm looking forward to chatting with him later."
"We should get there about elevenish." She figured that would give Rob enough time to steel himself.
"Ok love. Looking forward to it. Bye."
"Bye, Mum. Happy Christmas." She hung up and grinned, she was sure her Mum was at this moment rushing to the day room to spread her good news. Her daughter was no longer in danger of ending up as a mad cat lady. She heard the shower start up and decided to make good her promise, the least she could do for the condemned man, she thought as she left the warmth of the bed and headed to the bathroom.
A little while later, Sandra found herself feeling quite nervous, she was waiting for Rob to come down from getting dressed, her fingers playing with the red ribbon on the small gold wrapped box she was holding. She had wracked her brain for the perfect present to mark their first christmas together, wanting something truly special for him. She had finally had an idea, but then had had a devil of a time finding what she wanted. Eventually she had found a shop who had ordered it, but she had only got it yesterday.
He came down the stairs, fastening his watch on his wrist. She noticed he was walking quite slowly. He rubbed his stomach.
"Are you alright?" She questioned, concerned. He looked up and smiled gingerly.
"Its a bit achy, I think we may have overdone it a bit."
"The stiches looked ok when we changed the dressing."
"Oh they're fine, I think I've just stretched the muscles a bit."
"I'll drive to Whitemead, that'll give you chance to rest... Umm, I got this for you." She held out the small package. Her face flushed, "It's not much, I hope you like it." He smiled and took the small box.
"Can I open it now?" He asked. She nodded. He pulled at the ribbon, and pulled at the gold paper and found himself holding a small blue box, he took the lid off, revealing a piece of padding. He glanced up at her, she was almost bursting with nervousness, he removed the padding and uncovered a gold neck chain with what at first glace looked like a St Christopher on it. He lifted it from the box, then realised it wasn't St Christopher. The image on the pendant was that of an angel, but he was wearing an armoured breast plate and was wielding a spear.
"St Michael." Robert recognised the image.
"I thought you would get it." She whispered. "Look on the back." He turned the pendant over, the back was engraved. He read it out loud.
"To R,To keep you safe, and protect you, love forever. S" He looked up at her, her eyes shone with unshed tears.
"After the last week, I thought we could use all the help we could get."
"Saint Michael the archangel. Patron saint of police officers." He acknowledged. "It's perfect. It must have been hard to find." She took it out of his hand and fastened it around his neck, letting it drop under the collar of his shirt.
"It was a bit, but you know me, once I get an idea in my head.."
"I know all to well." He grinned. "I'll keep it on, wherever I go, that way not only will I have the protector of police officers on my side, but I'll always know you are there as well." He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She ran her fingers along the side of his jaw.
"I'm glad you like it."
"Wait here, I've got something for you." He pulled away and retrieved her present from his coat pocket. He passed it to her. She turned the red and green packet over in her hands, she pulled at the paper, revealing a long hinged box, she opened it and gasped, inside was a single silver chain with what looked like a blue dew drop on a silver leaf. She lifted the pendant and looked more closely at it.
"It's blue moonstone, it reminded me of your eyes." He explained nervously. She lifted the necklace from the box.
"It's beautiful." She whispered, holding it up to the light, the little silver leaf glinting as the light from the window caught the fine detail of the veins.
"Here, let me." He gently took it off her and she turned round, lifting her hair out of the way, he leaned against her back as he dropped the pendant against the skin at her throat, then he gently fastened the clasp at the back. He turned her so she could see their reflections in the hall mirror. He caressed her neck where the chain sat. "So beautiful." He whispered, his meaning clear, it wasn't just the necklace he was refering to.
"It's amazing! Thank you." She smiled at him. He looked down at his feet, putting his hand in his pocket.
"I got this at the same time, but I thought I might be rushing you." He opened his hand to reveal a ring box. "I wan't to ask you to marry me, but I don't want you to feel you have to accept now, so I am going to give you this ring as a promise, that I will love you forever, and that at some point in the next few months I will be proposing to you." He opened the box and revealed a gold ring with a single diamond setting. She put her hand to her mouth, and looked up at him, her eyes glistening. She saw him look slightly worried and instantly knew what she had to do.
"Ask me now." She whispered. He looked as though he was going to cry. He went down on one knee and held the ring out to her.
"Sandra Pullman, will you marry me?" He asked her, his voice full of emotion.
"Yes! Oh God yes!" She was crying now. He stood and pulled her into an embrace, she kissed him, putting all her heart and soul into the moment.
He pulled back and wiped the tears from her face. He took the ring from the box and slid it onto her ring finger.
"You really have given me the best present I could ever have." He held her hands, "I am the luckiest man on the face of the planet it this moment in time."
"Do your boys know you were going to ask me?"
"Nobody knows. I didn't want to force your hand. Just in case."
"You really thought I might say 'no'?" She cupped his face in her hands.
"We've only been going out for a week, I know that I wan't to spend the rest of my life with you, but I didn't want to take it foregranted that you felt the same way." He tried to explain. She smiled.
"And that's one of the things I love the most about you." She told him. He flushed.
"Let's get going, I have another surprise for you a bit later, but we need to go and see your Mum."
"Well, this will stun her into a moment of silence at least." She smiled, looking at the ring, glistening in the light.
It was nearly an hour later when they pulled into the car park at the Whitemead residential care home. They got out and made their way to reception, as she approached the desk, the young nurse on duty looked up at her and smiled.
"Good morning Ms Pullman. Grace said to expect you."
"Good morning Kelly, Merry Christmas." Sandra had got to know the staff quite well over the last few years. After UCOS had investigated the home several years previously, she had expected to find a frosty reception, only to find quite the opposite, she had been welcomed with open arms, it seems that the death of a very popular lady being so casually written off hadn't sat well with most residents. Even Pru Saunder's had been welcoming to her, she had been allowed back to the home after it was decided that her crime hadn't been worth prosecuting, and all the other residents had demanded her return, even Lionel, who said he had to shoulder some of the guilt for not realising how she felt. Finding Maggie's killer and exposing the thief had made Sandra and her team a legend.
Sandra signed the visitors book, as did Robert, Sandra couldn't help herself when she saw Kelly checking him out.
"This is my fiancee, Robert." She told the nurse, a swell of pride filling her heart. Kelly beamed at her.
"Congratulations, Grace was so excited when she told me you would be bringing a guest, she didn't mention your engagment though."
"It only happened an hour ago." Sandra told her, showing off the ring, then she dropped her voice conspiritorially, "She doesn't know yet, you know before her." Kelly beamed.
"Then congratulations again, to both of you, I'll not breathe a word to anyone." She smiled, "Go on through, Grace is in the lounge."
They made their way through to the main day room, there was a particularly rowdy game of trivial persuit going on. Sandra spotted Grace sitting watching the game, laughing at the antics of the others. Grace looked up and waved.
"Wow, she actually looks pleased to see me." Sandra whispered.
"She was waving at me." Robert quipped, earning himself a playfull slap on the arm.
"Although, you're probably right." She smiled, they made their way over to Grace, having to keep stopping to greet just about every other person in the room. "Mum, did you tell everybody I was bringing Rob?" She asked when they finally reached her.
"Everybody I could find, Yes." She told her daughter.
"Mrs Pullman, It's good to see you again." Robert greeted the older woman, as they sat in the chairs alongside her.
"Please, call me Grace. So you seem to have swept my daughter off her feet."
"I think the sweeping was mutual." He smiled, reaching out and taking Sandra's hand.
"I thought all those years ago how good you looked together. It's a shame it's too late for Sandra to start a family." Sandra rolled her eyes,
"Here we go, I thought it was too good to last." Grace looked at her.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" She said sweetly. Robert squeezed Sandra's hand.
"I'll have to introduce you to my boys. That'll be enough to put you off the idea of grandchildren."
"Oh, don't, your boys are lovely." She squeezed his hand back.
"You have sons then?" Grace asked. Robert put his hand in his pocket and pulled his wallet, inside was a photo of himself with the boys.
"Ben is ten, Adam is twelve. That picture is a few years old. I'll have to get a new one now." He said, looking at Sandra.
"Oh, I'd love to meet them sometime." Grace said.
"Well, you will since you're going to be their step-Grandmother." Sandra said, and waited for the penny to drop. Grace paused and looked up at her daughter.
"You mean..." She started. Sandra nodded and held out her left hand to show her mother the ring. "Oh, my goodness." Grace put her hands to her mouth and her eyes started to listen. "Oh Sandra, it's beautiful. When?"
"This morning, after we spoke." She couldn't help but grin like a cheshire cat.
"Oh, come here and give your Mother a hug." Sandra sat forward and shared a rare Mother/Daughter hug with her Mum. Grace pulled back and looked at Robert. "And you, I wan't a son-in-law hug from you." He stood and leaned down and gave Grace an awkward hug, as he drew back, he rubbed at his stomach.
"Are you alright?" Sandra asked him concerned.
"Yes, the stitches pulled a bit, that's all."
"Stiches?" Grace asked, her face full of concern.
"Did you hear on the news earlier in the week, a policeman got stabbed?" Sandra asked her Mum.
"Yes, a girl got kidnapped. It was you?" She looked at Robert.
"Wrong place, wrong time." He shrugged. "It really wasn't as serious as the reporters made out."
"Serious enough to scare the life out of me." Sandra grasped his hand, the memory of that day fresh in her mind.
"Well, you two have packed a lot into this week." Grace said, shaking her head. Sandra couldn't help it, she started to laugh. Her laugh soon infected the others around her.
They stayed at Whitemead for a good hour, Sandra had never enjoyed a visit like it before. She had exchanged gifts with her Mum, and everybody had wanted to see her ring and wish them well, Lionel and Pru had lead the residents in a chorus of 'get me to the church on time' which then led onto 'the rain in spain' and 'I could have danced all night'. Then it was time for the residents to have their Christmas dinner.
"What are you doing for dinner?" Grace asked them. Sandra looked a bit blank, to be honest, she hadn't even thought about it. Christmas dinner for her usually added up to a chicken curry for one, accompanied with a large glass of wine and an afternoon of television. She was surprised when Robert answered.
"I have a surprise planned." He smiled.
"You do?" She smiled back.
"Absolutely. And we had better get going." They said their goodbyes and headed back to the car. Robert went round to the driving seat. "I need to drive, I don't want to spoil the surprise for you." He told her. She grinned at him.
"So long as it doesn't hurt. If it does, please tell me."
"I will." He promised. They got in and he pulled away from the home. They had been on the road for forty five minutes, Sandra had watched the sign posts for some indecation of where they were going. It had seemed they had been heading for Oxford for a while, but he had now veered of and was driving down some quite narrow country lanes. She couldn't keep track of where they were, but Rob seemed to know the roads well and needed no kind of navigation. She looked across at him.
"Are we nearly there yet?" She whined in a childlike voice. He laughed.
"I was wondering how long you would be able to resist asking. About another twenty minutes." She squeezed his leg and looked out of the window, it was a beautiful day, the sun was out, but the freezing wind had left a hoare frost on the trees and hedges which reflected the sunlight like diamonds, it was very much like a scene from a Christmas card.
Eventually they drove into a little village. The sign had read 'Minster Lovell', He pulled the car into the carpark of a little thatched pub. Sandra looked up at the sign, 'The Swan' lived up to it's name, on the grass next to the car park, two beautiful swans sat relaxing in the winter sunshine. It was a chocolate box setting.
"We're booked in here for dinner at five, full Christmas menu. Until then we can walk down to the river, or up to the church, behind the church is the ruins of the old hall. I've got us a room for tonight. The bags are in the boot." He told her.
"When on earth did you arrange all this?" She asked in awe.
"While I was in the hospital. Esther helped me. I packed the overnight bags while you finished in the shower this morning. I hope that's alright." He suddenly looked a bit nervous. She smiled to put his mind at ease.
"It's perfect. But what about Herman?"
"Mrs Merry, next door feeds him for me if I have to go away to a conference. She agreed to feed him tonight and in the morning. He has the catflap to get in and out. He'll be fine. I grew up in this area. I come here when I want to escape from the city. I wanted to share it with you." He felt the need to explain his decision to bring her here. He had told her some of his history, but there was so much she didn't know, he didn't want to hide any of it from her. She had accepted him into her life in a way he could never have dreamed of just a few weeks before, and just this morning she had commited herself to their future together.
"It's lovely. So peaceful." Her voice brought him out of his thoughts.
"Come on, lets get checked in, then we can kill some time."
That evening, Sandra stood in the shower, in the most beautiful victorian style bathroom, letting the steaming hot water run over her, relaxing her muscles and letting her mind drift. She had enjoyed the afternoon, exploring the 'haunted' ruins and feeding the ducks and swans on the river before they had eaten the most fabulous three course meal. The room they were staying in looked out over the river, a real wood fire burned in the grate and the wood panelling and rich colours gave the room a warm old world feel. The room was dominated by the huge oak four poster bed, with brown and burgandy linen, which made Sandra feel like she had just stepped into a romantic novel. She turned off the water and stepped out of the bath, drying herself and wrapping the huge fluffy bath sheet around herself. She stopped at the door of the bathroom, smiling to herself. Robert was lying in the bed, propped up on the pillows, he was currently talking to Adam and Ben on his mobile, filling them in on the fact that she would one day in the future be their step-mother. He was holding a glass of red wine in his other hand, having had a bottle bought up to their room. He looked so totally relaxed, and stress free, the effect making him look ten years younger. She hung the towel on the rail near the fire to dry and joined him in the bed. He smiled over to her.
"They want to talk to you." He told her, handing her the phone. She took it off him and held it to her ear.
"Hi guys. How are you?"
"Hi Mom!" The boys chorused in fake american accents, making Sandra burst out laughing. Robert had heard and was laughing too.
"Enjoy it while you can boys, next time we meet I'm taking you to visit my Mother." She told them.
"Can we call her Gran?" Adam asked cheekily.
"She'll hate Gran, or Granny, so please do." Sandra grinned. "Have a great time in New York, see you in New Year. Here, your Dad want's to talk to you again." She handed the phone back to Rob. As he took it she cuddled up to him and snaked her hand down under the covers, he tensed as she found what she was looking for.
"Ok boys!" His voice shot up an octave. "Seeeee you soon. Haaaave fun. Bye." He hung up quickly and dumped the phone on the side before tuning his attention to the grinning Sandra.
"Turn about's fair play." She told him.
"Fair enough." He laughed. "Happy Christmas." He reached over and picked up the other glass of wine he had poured for her earlier, he handed it to her.
"And here's to many more." She smiled, taking her glass from him, "To us."
"Us." He echoed.
Finis.
This is the end of Twelve Days. I will be continuing this storyline in the future, but I have some smaller works lined up first. S