Thank you for the reviews.

Now did this exist 24 hours ago? Of course, it didn't. Was it written at like midnight? Yeah. Was it due to Mrs Carmichael review? Is that really a question.

So here is the Boxing Day tradition (not that I will be doing mine this year) and maybe where Rachel gets her competitive streak from.

The Boxing Day Tradition

Rachel was glad to see Melissa carefully closing the door to the guest bedroom as she closed the door on her bedroom, making sure that Eddie was still asleep. They crept down the stairs and Rachel could only imagine that this was how their parents were all those years ago.

The Boxing Day tradition started by accident. Their father had always been the competitive one of their parents and while their mum never liked conflict, was sometimes up for the challenge that their father offered her. Both of them had inherited their father's competitive nature and something that started out as a bit of fun, turned into a competition between them. Usually Rachel and their dad versus Melissa and their mum.

"You should have told me. I could have planned as well." Melissa said, still in a hushed voice even though Rachel had closed the door to the kitchen.

"I know but you were umming and ahhing about coming."

"I suppose all the technology will make this easier."

"Oh Mel, we are going old school. This is the Christmas that I have wanted for Tommy since he was born. I've been planning this since he was three. Adam put a stop to all of that but now I can do it."

"So I guess that you have stocked up on board games then?"

"It has been hard hiding them from Eddie. I didn't want him asking too many questions."

"Teams?"

Rachel gave her a small smile. "I thought girls versus boys. You, me and Sophie versus Eddie, Philip and Tommy. And when Micheal and Katie show up, they can join the respective teams."

"Shouldn't we be team captains as we know what is happening?"

"Melissa, it is a showdown of who is the best at board games. The champion of games. I want all the advantage I can get. Anyway, Eddie is competitive enough. I am sure he will bring the boys up to our level."

"Same rules that we had as kids?"

"Oh yeah."

Melissa nodded at her. "I forgot about this side of Christmas. It was never going to be as fun with three or just two."

"Dad would have liked it if he had as many people as we do."

"Dad would just be happy that we are carrying on the tradition."

It was the first time that Rachel found herself agreeing with her sister for a long time.

"All right, McEnroe."

"Excuse me. Are you calling me a liar again?"

"I'm far too much of a gentleman to say that."

"That line only works once mister."

Rachel may have said her last words as sternly as she could say them but she knew that Eddie was having the same flashback that she was. They had just finished the third game, with the girls winning the game. The morning had flown by and she knew that Micheal and Katie would be with them soon to join in the fun.

"Still think you shook the table," Eddie said.

"I wasn't even touching the table."

"You were. I had that perfectly."

"No, you didn't. That tower was not stable." She said as she started to pick up the Jenga pieces to put it back in the box.

"It only collapsed as I put the block on top."

"Because you placed it wrong."

"Someone back me up here."

"Don't you dare look at me," Tommy said, holding his hands up as if it would deflect the blame.

"Sorry Eddie, you're on your own mate," Philip said.

"You guys are meant to be my support," Eddie said before he huffed.

"We still have many games to go. Stop sulking." Rachel said.

"I forgot what you were like when you were competitive."

"Well Mr Lawson, you better get your team into shape because victory will be ours."

The doorbell went, giving Rachel the perfect chance to leave Eddie to talk to his team. Sophie and Melissa had already left the kitchen to set up the next game in the living room. She forgot how much fun it was their tradition and she knew that the addition of Micheal and Katie was only going to add to it.

"Am I going to have to say what your father says to you?" She said as she opened the door.

"We don't want to feel like we are intruding," Micheal said as he hugged her. "Merry Christmas."

"And to you. Go and join the boys in the kitchen. Eddie will catch you up."

Micheal gave her a confused looked before he did as she said.

"Merry Christmas," Katie said as she gave her a hug.

"Merry Christmas." Rachel said back. "Don't worry, you are with us girls and we are winning."

"So what is going on?"

"How good are you at Operation?"

The girls laughed in triumph as the boys groaned back into the sofa. It had been a long day of different games but the girls had been victorious overall and nothing pleased Rachel more than the disappointed look on Eddie's face.

"Definitely preferred it when you two didn't get along." He said.

"Oh darling, there is always next year."

"Yeah, next year I want my daughter on my team. At least she has a competitive streak in her until this lot."

"Sorry, that is the Fenshaw in her," Melissa said.

"And if I had it my way, Tommy would have been fully prepared for this." Rachel said.

"Well, I now know what we are going to do for the next year," Tommy whispered to Philip.

"Right, I think it is time for a bottle of wine and some cheese and biscuits. Don't you agree Rach?" Melissa said as she was already leaving the room.

Rachel didn't follow her but dropped onto the sofa next to Eddie as Tommy moved to go and help Melissa. His arm automatically went around her shoulders and her hand rested on his thigh. She didn't have to see his face to know that he was smiling as she rested her head on his shoulder as Micheal said about the presents that he had in the car for everyone and how he was going to get them.

"Okay, we may have won. But did you have fun?" Rachel asked.

"It was great fun."

"Good."

"So if that was your Boxing Day, what the hell happens on Christmas Eve?"

"Maybe you will find out next year."

"Rach."

"Christmas Eve… we would have a takeaway and get into our pyjamas super early and watch Christmas films until me and Melissa couldn't keep our eyes open. Dad would bring their duvet and pillows down and we would all squeeze onto the sofa, huddled together. It was like the calm before the storm."

"I think we might have to do that next year."

"Yeah, we might."

They shared a quick kiss before Melissa, Tommy and Micheal all entered the room. Eddie leant forward to join in the conversation that started as Micheal handed the presents that him and Katie had brought for them. Rachel could only smile as she realised that she had just had the Christmas that she had been dreaming about for so long but unable to have. It was the first time that she allowed herself to believe the words that she had said to Tommy on Christmas morning. Adam wasn't in control of Christmas any more. She was and she planned on making every Christmas as close to this Christmas as she possibly could.