"Oh Jesus, I thought you were joking!" Harry laughed.

Ruth stood in the middle of the kitchen with an enormous platter in her arms. "I told you I wanted a traditional Christmas with a traditional Christmas goose!"

He couldn't seem to stop laughing. "Since when are we living in a Dickensian novel?"

"Harry!"

Seeing now that he was starting to hurt her feelings, he took the tray of raw goose out of her hands and put it down on the counter before leaning in to give her a quick kiss on the tip of her nose. "I'm sorry, darling, I'm only teasing. Christmas goose sounds wonderful. Haven't had it since I was a boy, actually. Is there any help you need?

"Just keep the party entertained while I'm cooking. And keep my drink glass filled," she replied with a slightly exasperated expression. She went back to her goose on the counter and began making the spice mix.

Harry smiled affectionately. "Ruth?" His voice was soft, getting her attention with his gentle tone.

"Hmm?"

He crossed over to her and pressed a lingering, loving kiss to her lips. "Happy Christmas."

"Yes, you've said that," she teased, recalling the way he'd woken her that morning, whispering Christmas tidings in her ear as his hands traced arousing patterns on her skin and his hardness pressed against her bum. When they'd fallen back onto the bed, sweaty and sated, he wished her a merry Christmas once more.

"I may have said it before and I will continue to say it all day. I can't recall the last time I had a nice Christmas. Certainly even longer since I haven't been to work on Christmas Day. I think it's high time I enjoy the holiday," he reasoned.

Ruth smiled at him with sparkling eyes, kissing him once more. "High time we both enjoyed the holiday. Happy Christmas, my love. Now go away so I can concentrate."

He did as she asked, his wheezy laugh fading as he left the kitchen and went to get the living room ready for their party.

Their first arrival of the afternoon was Malcolm, bringing a bottle of scotch for Harry and a lovely bouquet for Ruth. "I know Harry's got that lovely garden, but I didn't imagine you'd have much blooming this time of year," he explained.

Ruth kissed his cheek. "They're beautiful, Malcolm. Thank you. Merry Christmas." She shooed the men into the living room so she could get back to her goose. Harry poured them all some of the scotch from Malcolm, bringing Ruth's glass into the kitchen for her, before going to answer the doorbell.

Fiona Carter's mother, looking like the spitting image of her dearly departed daughter, came by to drop off Wes. The boy was thirteen now, but still the same bright child Harry and Ruth had loved when he was little.

"Uncle Harry, Gran said I can stay all afternoon!" Wes announced. "Is Auntie Ruth really making a goose?"

"Why don't you go see for yourself?" Harry suggested, pointing the way to the kitchen.

Wes scampered off to see Ruth. She was just putting the bird in the oven when she saw him come in. "Oh, Wes!" she cried, pulling him into her arms. "Goodness, look how tall you are!"

"You just saw me two weeks ago, Auntie Ruth," he grumbled.

"I know, but I've got six years' worth of hugs to make up for," she replied, squeezing him tight before releasing him. "I'm so glad you could make it. Have you had a nice Christmas so far?"

Wes went on to talk about the presents he'd gotten, including the one Ruth and Harry had sent him to open on Christmas morning. He thanked her profusely, excited to get to read the translated Arabic stories that Ruth had picked out specifically for him, in homage to his parents. Harry had written a lovely inscription, telling a watered-down version of how Adam and Fiona had met and fallen in love. Ruth was pleased to know that Wes appreciated it.

"Now then, I've got quite a lot to do in here, so why don't you go see Uncle Harry and Uncle Malcolm. I think Harry's got a game for everyone to play before lunch," she told him.

Harry was just setting up the board when the doorbell rang once more. He was mildly shocked that their final guest had actually arrived.

"Hi, Dad," Catherine greeted with a stiff nod.

As much as he wanted to hug his daughter, Harry merely nodded in return and ushered her inside. "Merry Christmas, Catherine. I'm so glad you could make it."

Catherine removed her coat and gave her father a kiss on the cheek. "Mistletoe," she noted, pointing above his head to the sprig Harry had tied up there the week before. He'd meant it as an excuse to snog Ruth silly every time she came in the house, but this worked just as well. He blushed bright pink at Catherine's swift show of affection.

He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Right. Yes. We're all in here. Ruth's cooking up a storm and Malcolm's brought scotch, and we were about to sit down and play a game while lunch is cooking. Just you then? Or are we expecting anyone else?"

"Fabian is back with Mum," Catherine explained. "I wasn't quite sure what to expect, so I didn't want to drag him along in case things go…like they go."

"You're welcome to stay as long as your comfortable. We won't hold you hostage," Harry replied, trying desperately to be accommodating and not to blurt out that he was just so pleased Catherine had shown up at all.

"Your house is really nice," she commented as they walked through the front hall.

"Thank you. It's all Ruth's doing, actually. She picked everything out. I just keep it clean. But I'm so glad you can finally meet each other." Harry poked his head into the open kitchen door. "Ruth, Catherine's here."

"Oh!" Ruth tossed her oven mitts down and hurried out, trying to smooth back her hair into some sort of presentable appearance. "Catherine! It's so wonderful to meet you!" she greeted exuberantly.

If Catherine was taken aback by her father's much younger partner, she didn't show it. She merely smiled in her friendly manner. "Ruth, thank you so much for having me over for your Christmas lunch," the younger woman said politely.

"It's our pleasure. Harry was so nervous you wouldn't want to come, but I'm so glad you did. We really wanted a family Christmas. I haven't got any family left, you see, and Harry hasn't had the opportunity before now, so we wanted to host a luncheon. Oh, I'm just so happy you're here!"

Harry watched Ruth positively gushing over his daughter, welcoming her into their home. He hoped they'd get along, these two women he loved more than anything in this world. But this was their first opportunity. They'd see how it went.

Ruth sensed the awkwardness brought on by her effusive energy, which she sought to rectify. "Catherine, why don't you go through to the living room. I think Harry was just setting up Monopoly, weren't you?"

He nodded, but Catherine stared at him with slight surprise.

"Monopoly?"

"Yes, is that alright?"

She gave a strangled sort of laugh. "I can't believe you still do that. Wow."

Ruth was quite confused. "Still do what?"

Catherine explained, "The one Christmas I remember that we were all together for, Dad played Monopoly with us. And I only remember it because for years afterward, Graham kept asking if Dad would be home for Christmas so we could all play Monopoly again. Mum got quite cross about it, actually."

Harry was gobsmacked that she remembered. And that it had such an impact on his son. He had no idea. Another thing he could add to the long list of things he didn't know about his children.

"Perhaps the tradition can be properly revived," Ruth suggested. "I'll leave you to it, then." And with that, she disappeared back into the kitchen.

As she checked on the goose and got started on preparing the veg and potatoes and Yorkshire pudding, she kept the door open so she could overhear the festivities going on in the living room. The game was going rather well. Lots of laughter and happy shouting. Harry, it seemed, was beating everyone by leaps and bounds. Ruth could hear his barking laughter as he took all of Malcolm's money and Wes loudly declaring that Harry was just too good for it to be fair.

A minute later, Harry appeared in the kitchen, grinning like a madman. "I bought up every property but two," he proclaimed. "I think I almost made Malcolm cry."

Ruth glared at him for that remark. "Oh you're just infuriatingly pleased, aren't you?"

"I am, yes." Harry came over to where she was whisking the eggs and cream and flour for her pudding batter. He wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled against her neck.

Pausing her whisking, Ruth turned in his arms, grabbed his chin in her hand, and kissed him hard before pushing him off her. "There. Kissed that smug smile right off you. Now get back, I'm trying to keep to a time table and not burn the house down."

Harry laughed and leaned back against the counter beside her. He was about to make a teasing remark when he saw Catherine standing in the doorway, staring at them in shock.

"Sorry. Don't mean to interrupt. Just wanted to ask if you've got a cat. Wes found a ginger cat and I wanted to make sure it's yours."

"Yes, he's ours. That's Noodles," Ruth replied, trying to focus on her cooking to hide her violent blush of embarrassment for whatever Catherine had seen.

"Long story," Harry added, noting the confusion on his daughter's face about the cat's name. "I'll take care of it."

As Harry hurried past her, Catherine remained in the kitchen. "Do you need any help, Ruth?"

"No, I think I've got it under control. I'd love some company, though, if you'd like."

Catherine sat down at the kitchen table as Ruth poured batter into her preheated tin and put it in the oven as she removed the goose to let it rest a while before carving it. Once everything was done being moved about, Ruth could take a break and have a bit of her scotch.

"So, what do you want to know?" Ruth asked astutely.

The direct approach threw Catherine a bit off. But it was a pleasant surprise. "Dad said you've been together a while," she began.

Ruth nodded. "Something like that. We used to work together for a long time."

"Oh." There was a note of disdain in Catherine's tone.

"But that's all behind us now," Ruth assured her.

"And you're the reason he finally retired."

Ruth nodded. "I wanted us to get away while we still could. And not to be too grim about the whole thing, but I don't think either of us really understood it until that day that I asked him. I very nearly died in his arms, actually."

Catherine didn't have a response to that. Ruth didn't expect her to.

The two women were quiet for a moment. Ruth got to work on the veg while the pudds cooked. "I've never seen him like this before," Catherine noted, watching Harry playing with Wes from where she sat.

Ruth gave a knowing nod. "He hasn't had much opportunity for it before. To be happy."

"I suppose that's all thanks to you. Him being happy."

"We've done it together, honestly. We needed each other. More than we wanted to admit. It's still hard some days, not being a part of that life. It was all either of us had for far too long. But I know he's really trying. To make a good life for us. For us to be happy together."

Catherine gave Ruth a grateful smile and turned her attention back to her father, now sitting on the floor with the orange cat, laughing. "I wish Graham could see him like this," she thought aloud.

"I know Harry would really like to get into contact with him. He misses you both very much."

But Catherine shook her head. "Graham would kill me if I gave Dad his info. They've done a lot of damage to each other. Too much, I think."

"I don't know the whole story but I will say that I'm sorry you've been caught in the middle of so much of it."

Catherine regarded Ruth carefully. "I'm really glad he found you. I think you're really good for him."

"We're really good for each other," Ruth agreed. "And I'm glad you think so. I hope we can all spend more time together."

"I'd like that."

A crash and a loud groan sounded from the living room, followed very quickly by Malcolm calling Ruth's name. She turned off the stove where she was sautéing the green beans and ran out, muttering, "Christ, that man!

Harry could be heard groaning in pain and swearing, "Blasted bloody stupid dodgy knee!"

In the end, the traditional Christmas meal Ruth had worked so hard on was simultaneously a bit cold and a bit burnt. But it was delicious and everyone loved it and praised her for her efforts. Harry had an ice pack resting on his knee after he tweaked it trying to get up from the floor and chase after the damn cat.

Malcolm had agreed to drive Wes back to his grandparents after lunch, and Catherine had to get back to her partner and mother. Everyone had to say their goodbyes to Harry from where he was laid up on the sofa after the meal. Malcolm shook his hand and gave Ruth a kiss on the cheek. Wes gave them both big hugs.

Catherine was the last to go. "Dad, it was a really wonderful afternoon with you all. Best Christmas we've had, I think."

"I agree," Harry replied. He gratefully took his daughter in his arms and hugged her tight. "Take care of yourself. Call when you can."

She stood back up and nodded. "I will. I promise."

Ruth walked Catherine out to her car. "It was really wonderful of you to come. Perhaps next time you're around, you can bring Fabian with you. Now that you know we aren't as scary as you imagined."

Catherine laughed, "No, not scary. I actually think you're both lovely." She gave Ruth a hug. "Thanks for everything. Merry Christmas."

At last, Ruth locked the green front door and made her way back to Harry on the sofa. "Come here," he requested, opening her arms to him.

She sat down in his embrace, allowing him to lean back and pull them both into a supine position, snuggled up on the sofa. "Oh I don't ever want to move," she whined.

"So don't." He kissed her cheek.

"I've got to put the food away. You know Noodles is going to find his way onto the counter and destroy the leftover goose, and I wanted to make sandwiches with it," she told him.

"You can leave it for a little while." He kissed her again. "Happy Christmas, Ruth."

She hummed happily. "Happy Christmas, Harry."