Disclaimer not mine

Christmas Ghosts and Burnt Offerings.

Harry watched as Scarlet run around the small garden, she was completely mesmerised by the snow that had fallen overnight. The garden looked like a winter wonderland to the small dog and she was keen to investigate. Fidget and Muggles had been much more discerning and stayed in the kitchen. There was no way they were getting their paws wet. He laughed at the little dog as he suddenly realised it was the first heavy snow in London since Catherine was a baby. He smiled again as he remembered her reaction to seeing snow for the first time. She had been suitably unimpressed. He called Scarlet back in doors as he realised the small dog was shivering. Harry took pity on the small terrier and scooped her up in his arms.

"I think everyone else has the right idea, c'mon girl lets get you inside" He turned with the small dog shivering in his arms. He was waiting for the kettle to boil as Scarlet lay in front of the fire trying to get warm when he realised he was no longer alone in the kitchen. Ruth was stood behind him with her arms wrapped around his waist.

"Merry Christmas" She whispered as she kissed the back of his neck. Harry turned to face her.

"Merry Christmas. I thought you were still asleep" He watched as she pouted slightly.

"Mm" She smiled as he kissed her "I was"

"Ruth, it's early."

"I know, what time did we get home last night?" Ruth couldn't help but yawn.

"Well after I finally kicked Adam out it was about 7 so after everything I think we got home about midnight. Not too bad for us" He kissed her hair as she rested her head against his collar bone.

"And it's 6 am now. Harry, why are we awake?" Ruth groaned as he held her.

"My fault, but then most things are I find"

"Yes" Ruth pulled back "So it's a good job I love you"

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Beth woke later than she could remember doing so for a long time. It was Christmas Day and she had absolutely nothing planned. Well, nothing apart eating a giant bar of Dairy Milk and watching Top of the Pops. Sighing she rolled on to her back and stared at the ceiling as the news on Talk Sport announced that half the country was covered in snow. She groaned as she realised she was on call. She'd pulled the short straw along with Tariq and Dimitri. All three had to be available should the terrorists decide not to have a day off. She couldn't help but smile as she thought of the SBS man, there was definitely something there she just didn't know what.

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Dimitri answered the phone without even opening his eyes. He had no intention of getting out of bed until he had to. The flat was too cold and he couldn't really face getting out of bed.

"Mum! Hello! Merry Christmas" He sat up rubbing his eyes as he listened to his mother tell him all about the festivities he was missing. At least three of his sisters and nephews had arrived. He was suddenly glad he had to stay close to the Grid and was missing the family meal. Although he loved his mother dearly he didn't really get along with his older sister Hannah. The last thing he wanted was to be reminded of how he was 32 and still single. As if being single at 32 was such a crime.

"Yeah Mum"

"New Year?" He sighed, knowing he would have to see his family at some point. "I'll see. Work is a bit crazy this time of year" He paused as he listened to his mother telling him about her friend's daughter who was still single and only a year younger than him. Apparently the friend's daughter was called Shauna and was very keen to meet him. Dimitri was horrified at his mother's blatant attempt at matchmaking. He knew he had to think fast.

"Ah Mum, the thing is I am sort of seeing someone. Met her at work. Could I bring her?" He could almost see his mum jumping up and down. The moment the words left his mouth he prayed Beth would help out. He knew asking her would be an awkward conversation.

Ten minutes later Dimitri was in the shower trying to think of how he could ask her. He also prayed the various terrorist groups they were monitoring observed Christmas and let them all have a day off. At least the hot water cleared his head after the bottle of wine he had shared with Beth the day before. He let the hot water run down his back as he thought about how he could face his family if Beth refused to lie for him. Or was it really such a lie? He decided the only way to go was to get dressed and ring Beth.

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Lucas sat on the floor as the BBC news ran another story about snow chaos. He smiled as he watched Amy stare at the pile of presents under the tree. So far she had unwrapped a rag doll and an outfit his brother had sent her. She seemed more interested in the paper rather than the toys it contained. Ros curled up on the sofa nursing a mug of tea as she watched the pair sat on the carpet. Amy was still a little too young to understand the concept of Christmas and Santa but that didn't put her off deciding the packaging was more fun than the toys.

"I told you" Ros smiled as Lucas rolled his eyes.

"Mum!" Amy waved the paper and gave Ros a grin, her bottom tooth made her grin a little less gummy than it had been a few days earlier. Lucas rested his head on the sofa as Amy toddled over.

"Paper" Ros watched as Amy raised an eyebrow before debating whether or not to throw it.

"Amy" Ros held the toddler's gaze. It was slightly disconcerting to be met with a miniature version she had patented. Lucas looked from Amy to Ros and back again before shaking his head. Both the women in his life were as stubborn as each other. He could just see the arguments that would occur when Amy hit her teens. Amy narrowed her eyes before deciding her mum was going to win and flopped on to her bottom with a thud. She handed the paper to her father.

"Thank you Trouble" He smiled and winked at her as Amy laughed. Ros closed her eyes for a moment, it was clear Amy was always going to be able to wrap her father around her little finger. Amy rewarded him with a smile before toddling over to Ros with her arms up.

"Ok, ok" Ros picked her up and kissed her hair as Amy laughed.

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Beth answered the mobile on the first ring. She knew there was only one person she really wanted to talk to that morning. She stared at the television in the corner as she realised who was on the other end of the phone.

"Hi Dim"

"Beth, hi" He paused "look, I need you"

He cleared his throat as Beth's heart almost stopped in her chest at the shock of his words. She took a deep breath and rested her head on one hand. Her blonde hair flopped in her face as she forced herself to listen to Dimitri.

"What's wrong?"

"My mother is trying to set me up with one of her friend's kids" He paused before outlining what he had told Mrs Levandis. Beth laughed.

"Ok firstly Sailor Boy you owe me for this. And I mean seriously owe me, understood" he listened and she could almost see him nodding in her mind's eye. "Secondly think about what you do for a living, just lie to her. Tell her you can't go to her party and that you are not the male equivalent of Bridget sodding Jones"

"Beth, my mother is a Greek Cypriot immigrant that fought to stay in the UK in the 70's. She has six children, not even Harry could lie to her and get away with it. I'm the youngest but one of six and all the others have married and are producing enough kids to populate Western Europe. So I am the family failure. Please Beth, just get me through New Years Day without my sister and mother breathing down my neck. I'll do all your on calls in January and your paperwork if you help" He laid his head back on the sofa as he waited for her answer.

"Ok, where and when?" Beth decided she had made him suffer enough. She was secretly looking forward to playing the dutiful girlfriend. After all it made a nice change from Russian hooker or chambermaid.

"Mum and Dad's New Year's Day"

"Ok, we better start on my legend. Cant have your parents think we met on a Somali boat taken over by pirates with me playing a Russian hooker and you captaining a ship that you weren't while Lucas was there to assassinate a known AQ asset" She smiled down the phone.

"Ah yeah maybe not tell the entire truth" He laughed.

"Do you want to come over? I could cook" Beth had left the living room as she talked and was looking in her almost empty fridge. Cook? Yeah Beth but what? Manky lettuce and slightly green cheese? Oh nice. She screwed her nose up as she sniffed the milk. Beth Bailey was not domesticated in the least.

"I'll come over, but I'll cook. Bailey, you could cremate water" Beth laughed as she hung up the phone. It was going to be a good Christmas; it was the first time since she had lost her parents that she was looking forward to the rest of the day.

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Malcolm checked his phone, half expecting to be red flashed. Sarah was on the phone to her brother in Cardiff. He heard her promise that they would visit Cardiff some time in the New Year. He stood in the doorway slightly amazed that his life had changed so much. Some ill advised comment to Tariq had resulted in Ruth tracking down Sarah and he realised he couldn't be happier. He shook his head, almost heartbroken that not only was his best friend no longer there to see how happy he was, he knew Colin would have loved Sarah but his mother's dementia was so advanced she would not even be able to remember him let alone know about his fiancée.

"Malcolm" Sarah brushed her fringe away from her eyes as she smiled at him. Exhaustion made the welsh lilt in her voice all the more obvious. He returned the smile.

"Just thinking"

"Need I ask what about?" She blushed as she walked towards him.

"Only how lucky I am to have you back in my life. How I never really thanked Tariq and Ruth and how much I love you" He blushed as Sarah wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Fy Cariad" she whispered as she kissed him. He sighed as she pulled away. "Come on, your Mam will be waiting for us"

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Ruth swore loudly as Harry appeared in the kitchen doorway. She was clearly a little stressed at the thought of cooking Christmas dinner. She had already sent Catherine and Graham out of her way. It was Catherine's wide eyes and slightly worried expression that sent him looking for her. The water boiling on the hob boiled over as she tried and failed to get the pan off the hob. Ruth swore as hot water splashed on to her skin. Yelping in pain she ran her hand under the cold tap."Ruth?" Harry was behind her in seconds, holding her hand under the water.

"I just wanted today to go well" Ruth hissed as the cold water hit her skin.

"I know" He held her wrist in place as he kissed her neck. His body practically pinned her to the sink. Not for the first time Ruth wondered how it was possible for Harry to be so different away from work. Husband Harry was very different to Section Head Harry.

"Oh and I think it is you that needs to wear a cowbell if you insist on sneaking up on me while I'm cooking" He laughed at her words.

"Ruth" He kissed her neck again "I am a spook. I need to practice my stalker skills" He almost purred the words in her ear.

"I just wanted us to have a lovely day, especially with Catherine, Graham and Charlie here" She rested her head back on his shoulder as Harry hugged her to him and kissed the skin on her neck where her t shirt had slipped.

"It is" Both jumped as Scarlet and Muggles ran through the kitchen. Fidget clearly couldn't be bothered to take part in the chase and strolled behind the pair. "Everyone is together, we are all relatively alive and so far Catherine and Graham haven't started fighting. Even Graham and I are managing to be civil to each other. Charlie seems happy enough" He smiled as he thought of the baby who seemed completely amazed by the whole idea of Christmas.

"Dinner may not be the best. I know Jane was a good cook but turkey really isn't my forte" She sighed.

"Ruth, if I wanted a domestic goddess I'd have married Nigella Lawson. I want you" He made her skin tingle as he spoke. "I love you, burnt carrots and all"

"Carrots!" Ruth jumped out of his arms as the smoke alarm began to sound. Harry laughed, Ruth may be the best analyst in the world he thought but she is certainly the world's worst cook.

"Harry! Help me!" She opened the oven door as a cloud of smoke escaped. The turkey looked more like a roasted budgie and all Harry could do was laugh. Both turned to see Graham leaning on the door as Catherine tried to hit the off button on the smoke alarm with her umbrella.

Graham held his ribs as he laughed "Pizza anyone?" Ruth rolled her eyes as Harry tried and failed to stifle his giggles.

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Zaf stared out the window as Emma climbed up on the chair next to him. "Did father Christmas bring you something nice?" The five year old was always full of questions. Zaf smiled.

"Yes Emma"

"Mum says we're going to Granma's later and she is going to have a word with Gramps"

"Yeah" He felt a little sorry for Mr Reynolds at that point.

"Where are you going?" Emma

"To see my parents, Em. I told you my sister and the others will be there" He watched as the little girl straightened her High School Musical top.

"Yeah. You've got lots of sisters and brothers. I'd like a baby brother or sister. I asked Father Christmas"

"Oh" Zaf couldn't help but blush.

"EMMA!" Zoe yelled as Emma sighed. She got down from the chair before running off to see what Zoe wanted. It was then Zaf glanced back at the glass. He smelled the familiar scent as she stared at the faded reflection of Jo in the glass.

"Thanks for the flowers" She smiled "Daisies were always my favourite." He rolled his eyes. Jo knew he'd been to the cemetery with Ruth two days earlier. He didn't ask how.

"Look Zaf, stop stalling if you want to be with her, make sure she knows it. Zoë's had enough rubbish with her ex she's nervous about you and her. Emma loves you. It's supposed to happen. Don't compare it to Adam and Fiona. That isn't you. Oh I'm glad Tariq worked out the Christmas tree bomb. Merry Christmas Zaf" She smiled. Zaf knew when he looked away she's be gone.

"Merry Christmas Jo" He sighed as he closed his eyes. She was right, he knew it. If he wanted to be with Zoe permanently he had to make sure she knew it.

"Zoe!" He turned and made his way back to the living room. Jo stepped back in to the shadows. She knew she would always be the ghost that looked out for Section D. It was the way things were now, but she guessed just this Christmas the spooks could manage without their friendly ghost.

A/N Thats all folks. Hope you enjoyed this, more stories in the New Year. Please review, even if you hate it. Shall I write Beth and Dimitri's visit to his parents house? New Years Eve on the Grid sounds interesting!