So sorry it has been so long! I haven't updated anything since long before Christmas, what with holidays and family stuff. I'm hoping to be much more reliable again - Another New Start should be updated soon as well. Take care and I hope you had a great Christmas - HAPPY 2013! Hugs and loveballs, Z xxx

Christmas Eve

"Good Morning kids! Time to get up, lots to do!"

Rick groaned and blinked in the light of the bedroom. He saw his mother in the doorway.

"Go away," he muttered.

Martha just laughed. "Come on. It's Christmas eve, and you both have work to do."

Rick looked at Kate. Her eyes were just opening, and she looked at him accusingly. Rick looked back sympathetically.

"Fine. We'll get up. You can go," he said to his mother. Martha left with a satisfied smile on her face. Rick groaned and flopped back against the pillows, pulling Kate into his arms.

"We could say we're ill," she murmured.

Rick laughed. "Or we could just say, since we're both adults, we don't have to do what she says."

"She's going to make us, isn't she?"

"'Fraid so. We'll live."

Rick slipped out of the bed and shivered. He took Kate's hand and led her to the bathroom. She didn't shut him out. He grinned.

"I think I'm looking forward to tonight."

"I think I am too," she said, smiling. She got into the shower, and he left to find clothes. He showered too, and they got dressed. Kate was ready before Rick, and she lay back on the bed, closing her eyes. It was so comfortable, she could easily just go back to sleep...

She felt the bed move. Rick was lying down beside her. He smelt like her body lotion. She opened her eyes and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Mine was empty," he said, and pulled her closer to him.

"You owe me," she replied, snuggling against him.

"Richard!" Martha's voice pierced their short-lived lull.

"Coming, mother," he said, and took Kate's hand, pulling her off the bed. They went into the kitchen where Martha was sitting, armed with a huge shopping list.

"Can I trust you two not to distract each other?"

Rick and Kate just looked at each other, knowing this was incredibly unlikely. Then Rick took the list.

"Of course. When do you need us back?"

His watch told him it was 9am. Martha gave them until 1pm. "I'll make lunch – don't be late!" she said as they hurried through the door.

"We could just go to my place," Kate said in the elevator. "It's empty – Lanie's away for the holidays, and my Dad's at his cabin."

But even as she said it she knew she didn't want to. Christmas at their apartment had always been so special, and it had been her mother that made sure it was. Rick saw the pain on her face, and put his arm around her. "I think we'd better do the shopping," he said. "She'll have our heads if we don't."

Kate smiled at him, and nodded. They decided to get the subway to the city centre, checking the list as the train shot through the web of underground passageways. Kate thought about the place she lived, operating on so many levels, with so much going on above and below ground. It was a bit like a person, feeling so many things at once. All the people on the train were wrapped up in their own little worlds, thinking about the next day and all the things they had to do. Kate was happy to be in her own little world with Rick. She thought back to when she was in college – her head might as well have been filled with cotton wool. She was different now. But she was still the same person. She saw Rick looking at her.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, peering at her from over the list.

"Lots," Kate laughed. "How people change, but still stay the same."

Rick smiled. "Everything changes, right?"

"Exactly. But we're still the same people."

"Underneath, to an extent. But I think meeting you has made me change for the better."

"Me too. I guess bad things make us change as well..."

"Of course," he replied, knowing what she meant. "And you'll never go back to the way you were. But all these events that help to shape us, and make us who we are – they aren't necessarily bad. Or even if the event is bad, it might still change us for the better."

Kate could see what he was getting at. "I hope so. Anyway, this is a serious conversation for Christmas eve! What does your Mom want us to get?"

Rick smiled and put his arm around her. "It's okay to talk about serious things. In fact, it's good. And in answer to your question, food, mostly. And far too much of that."

Kate laughed. "Christmas wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't stuff ourselves silly."

"Can't argue with that," Rick said. They got off the train and made their way upstairs, looking around at the frozen city. They headed into Martha's favourite food market, and began loading up a cart with all the things on her list. They bought everything she had asked for. As he was paying, Rick smiled wryly.

"Interestingly, even though I had no say in what we bought, I seem to be paying for all of it."

Kate laughed. "You're the one with the money. Deal with it." She winked at him, and he winked back. The clerk laughed and wished them a Merry Christmas. Laden with brown paper bags, they decided to splash out on a taxi back to the apartment.

Christmas Day

Martha had really done herself proud with all the cooking, and long after she had gone to bed, Kate and Rick were still collapsed on the couch, feeling too full to move. Kate fiddled with the bracelet Rick had bought her, light and comfortable on her wrist. Rick watched her.

"I'm glad you like it," he said.

"It's perfect," she answered. He'd also given her a cell phone. She felt a bit guilty – she hadn't got him anything expensive. She'd given him a wallet because his was getting worn out, and a new notebook and pen. She'd thought about suggesting that they didn't do presents, but she'd decided that would just be cowardly – and they couldn't do that forever. Plus, she usually liked buying people things. She'd given Martha a new pair of gloves, and Martha had given her a dress that was beautiful, if rather more daring than Kate usually liked to be.

Kate snuggled against Rick.

"Don't fall asleep," he murmured. "Or I won't be able to get up."

"Why do you need to get up?" she asked quietly.

He closed his eyes. "I guess I don't..."

The next morning they woke up still on the couch. Kate stretched, getting rid of the stiffness in her neck.

"It's all over already," Rick said, and he sounded a little mournful. Kate laughed.

"Come on, you're a grown man. It's only Christmas."

"Only Christmas? Only Christmas? It'll be a whole year before it comes around again!"

Kate grinned. "You'll live. It was lovely though."

"I agree. Best Christmas yet." He smiled at her. "And I guess we can still celebrate other things?"

Kate saw the look in his eye. "I need some coffee first. And maybe we should move off the couch?" she added as he began to undo her shirt.

"Fine," he said, following her into the kitchen. "But I'm not waiting too long."

"Shouldn't we do something with Martha?" Kate asked over the hum of the coffee machine.

"Later, yes. But she'll sleep in. It's only eight – you always wake up so early!"

"Always have."

"Maybe we can turn it into a good thing today."

Kate laughed. "I think every seven seconds is an understatement!"

Rick laughed with her. "When I'm with you, there's just a constant feeling..."

Kate looked at him. "Even when we're fighting? O r talking about something really serious?"

"Especially when we're fighting. And the way your brow furrows when you're thinking – so cute I can't help myself..."

Kate poured him a coffee. "I guess women just have more resistance."

"Now I'm a little disappointed. When do you think about it? Don't tell me you never have, say, at work?"

"Maybe I have. But I have ways to... put it out of my mind."

"Do tell," he said, sipping his drink.

"I just think about something else. Like, I don't know, math or something."

Rick laughed loudly. "You do math to take your mind off me?"

Kate stuck her tongue out. "Well, math is logical and has strict rules – so it's the perfect opposite of you."

"You got me there," he said.

"How do you stop thinking about me?" she asked.

"I don't. I love thinking about you."

"But when you're supposed to be doing something..?"

"I multi-task. Or postpone it, I guess. I'm thinking about you right now. Can't wait for the real thing..."

Kate swatted him with her hand, but tipped her coffee down the sink. Rick poured his away too, and took her hand, leading her to the bedroom.