Robbie returned to the rest of the house with Lily who raced to tell her father all about Samson. Robbie found Hathaway with a glass of Champagne in his hand and discovered that Laura had already filled up everyone's glasses. On checking that Hathaway seemed comfortable being left with Laura's family, Robbie decided it was best to go and see if she needed any help in the kitchen.

"How're you getting on Love, do you need a hand?" He asked Laura as he made his way into the kitchen area, just as she took a tray of glistening roasted vegetables out of the oven. She had changed into a close-fitting black dress and Robbie felt his gaze linger on certain parts of her body unashamedly.

"No, I'm ok, thanks, everything's under control. I am rather hot though" Laura said, tossing a handful of chopped fresh herbs onto the vegetables.

"I'd agree with that" said Robbie, before looking behind him towards the living room to check no one was looking. Ritchie was chatting to Hathaway while Lily investigated the contents of a cracker. Confident he couldn't be observed, Robbie quickly went behind Laura and pulled her close. He couldn't help his hands wander where his eyes had gone only moments before.

"You look gorgeous" he said, kissing her on the neck, his hands still caressing her

"Robbie" Laura said in weak protestation, putting down a wooden spoon but she turned and Robbie pulled her closer and kissed her, giving her backside a sneaky squeeze in the process. Laura knew that Robbie didn't care if he was seen showing his affection for her but she knew he was thinking about the possibility of her or her family's embarrassment. Laura, in fact, didn't care a jot but she loved how Robbie was careful of how his amorous attentions might affect her. She smiled again as she felt his lips close to her ear.

"Listen," he said softly "When our very lovely but unexpected guests have eventually gone, I think we've got a lot of festive catching up to do, don't you? I can't wait to get you by that fire again for a cuddle" He kissed her again on her neck

"What d'y' say?" He whispered again in her ear as he held her close. He could feel her smile against his cheek and quickly checking he still couldn't be seen by their guests he nuzzled his nose into her hair and kissed her neck again

"Mmm?" He said again, pulling away to look at her, his hands continued his sentiment, gently caressing her back as he gazed at her. She returned the gaze for a few seconds, enjoying their closeness, her hands also wandering a little, giving him an unspoken answer to his proposal.

"Go and see if anyone needs a top up, will you?" She said, as his hands continued to wander, her smile shifting slightly into a frown that barely suppressed an affectionate smirk and one that he could see betrayed how she was really feeling.

"And maybe turn the heat down on your way" she said and gave his backside a pinch

He chuckled as he went, taking a bottle of champagne with him, filling a glass for himself as he made his way back into the sitting room.

Laura watched him go, a smile still on her lips. Their first Christmas together hadn't been anything like she had expected but somehow it didn't matter. She looked over to the sitting room. It seemed right that Hathaway had turned up. It didn't make much difference to her cooking- she'd made plenty to go round but she knew that with the unexpected arrival of her brother meant that Robbie wasn't averse to the benefits of Hathaway's impromptu appearance.

After lunch which was demolished and enjoyed by all, more drinks were drunk in the sitting room in front on the stove. Laura had hoped they all might have gone for a walk but with the extra cooking it was too late to catch the light after lunch. She didn't mind too much, there would be plenty of time for long walks with Robbie after Christmas. Instead, she spent time with Lily who had become completely besotted with Samson. Hathaway was getting on well with Laura's brother and Laura could tell, from what she could hear from the conversation, that James was gleaning important tips on career choices at pivotal times in one's life. Laura rolled her eyes a little, Ritchie's resume sounded glittering and successful but she was hearing the edited version. Robbie offered the odd pearl of wisdom here and there for Hathaway and Laura could tell it was clear that James was at some sort of potential juncture in his chosen career path.

Laura was happy to listen in from the edge while she and Lily made a toy for Samson out of a champagne cork with some string tied around it so that it looked like a mouse. Lily found a bird's feather in the garden which Laura also helped her fasten to the cork. Samson went wild over the little toy and played with Lily to her utter joy. Eventually, however, Samson needed a rest and he snuck away back to his basket for a while for some peace and quiet.

Laura and Richard called their brother and nieces in New Zealand, Robbie poured Hathaway and himself a drink and sat down at the other end of the sofa. The two friends chatted about nothing and everything and Hathaway voiced more of the obvious ennui he was suffering from.

Samson had made a return appearance after napping in his basket and, with Lily speaking on the phone to her relatives in another part of the house, he first found his way onto Robbie's lap before deciding to settle onto the long length of Hathaway's thighs. Hathaway seemed soothed by the cat's presence and he stroked the back of Samson's head. The old cat dozed in a state of bliss while this was going on. Robbie tried hard to help with whatever was troubling Hathaway, but it wasn't easy. Robbie was used to straight talking, something that Hathaway was capable of when he felt like it but today he clearly wasn;t in the mood, although Robbie could tell he was having a better day than if he'd spent it on his own.

After more drinks, Hathaway eventually went out for a cigarette. Robbie got up off the sofa and loaded a log onto the fire. He felt relaxed and happy, despite Hathaway's barely concealed gloom. Robbie looked around the room. Lily was talking to her mother on the phone whilst sitting next to her father, both having retuned back into the living room. Robbie wondered where Laura was. The kitchen was clean and tidy after Ritchie and Lily offered to clear everything away and wash the dishes that couldn't go in the dishwasher. Laura wasn't in there nor was she outside with Hathaway, although it was getting dark Robbie could see James on his phone whilst pulling deeply on his cigarette. Robbie stood up and went into the hallway. Maybe Laura had gone upstairs or perhaps was still talking to relatives in a quieter part of the house.

Laura was in the laundry room. She wasn't really interested in animals, but that was more out of necessity. Her career hours dictated she wasn't at home on a regular basis and often she went travelling on her leave. Nonetheless Laura did have an inherent kindness for animals that generally went unnoticed. Robbie had assumed that Samson's presence had added to the chaos of the day but Laura had rolled with it. After lunch, while everyone else was occupied, Laura had made up a small saucer of chicken breast, finely chopped and taken it unseen by everyone into Samson who had been resting in his basket. Laura stroked him for a while then placed the chicken on the floor which Samson had eaten through deep purrs. Now, in the laundry room she smiled to herself to see that Samson had cleared his plate and was nowhere to be seen. Laura topped up his water bowl and then, leaving the door ajar again, went back into the rest of the house.

"Oh you're there" said Robbie as Laura appeared from the corridor into the hallway.

"what were you doing?"

"Nothing" she said.

"I hope Samson isn't causing any trouble"

"Not that I can see" she said with a smile

"Come here for a sec" He said, almost whispering with a tilt of his head

"What!?" She replied with a frown, going up to where he was standing a little further down the hallway

"Nothing" he said "I just want to give you a kiss under the mistletoe, before Christmas Day is over"

She smiled as she went up to him and he caught her hands in his and drew her up to him. Under the mistletoe, that was tied to a red string and hung above them, they kissed. Softly at first, small kisses with smiles in between and then a little bit more of a deeper kiss that told them both that they were both feeling the same thing.

When they pulled away, Robbie, with his hands gently on Laura's face smiled sweetly at her "Happy Christmas, Canny Lass"

"Happy Christmas, Robbie" she said, a flush in her cheeks from the kiss and a little bit of moisture in her eyes that she couldn't help being there from pure happiness at the situation.

"I want you to know I've had a smashing day" Robbie said, looking down at her

Laura laughed softly "Me too" She said "I've had a smashing day too" She smiled back, the smile turning into a small laugh, one that Robbie loved and that he had been more accustomed to since they had become close to each other

"Where's Hathaway? Is he ok?" Laura said

"I don't know. I think somethings going on with family. You know him, he doesn't let on. I get the impression it involves his dad."

"Is he an only child?"

"Y'know, I have no idea"

"Well I'm sure if he needs an ear you'll be the one for him to talk to"

Despite this reassurance, Laura knew this wasn't the case entirely. She was well aware of how complicated things sometimes were, emotionally between the two men. But there was a strong bond between them that always seemed to hold them together and more often than not, each had the ability to set straight the other in times of crisis.

In the garden, finishing his cigarette, Hathaway looked over into the house. It was cold and the lights inside were a warm contrast to the cold air that seemed to cloak him. He could see Lewis and Laura in the hallway. Lewis had his arms around Hobson, perhaps thinking they couldn't be seen and they were kissing and talking. Hathaway smiled sadly. He was feeling sorry for himself. He had nothing but the utmost respect for his old boss but he couldn't help but feel a little envious of Lewis and his recent discovery of love with Laura. He berated himself, not for the first time in the last few days. How could he feel jealous of Lewis after everything he'd been through? Hathaway knew the anguish that he'd suffered in the years after Val and now, Lewis had found love again that seemed to match what he'd lost with Val. Hathaway hated himself for feeling envious of Robbie's situation. If only punishments in life were met with guaranteed rewards he thought. His thoughts turned to his family and the bitter conversation he'd had with his sister that morning. Lewis had turned up unexpectedly and after all, his day hadn't been as miserable as he'd expected. He stubbed out his cigarette and, not wanting to throw it into the garden, hunted around for the outside bin before going back into the house via the kitchen door instead of the door that went back into the house via the hallway. He didn't want to disturb what was obviously a moment between Lewis and Laura.

Back in the hallway, Laura and Robbie were still chatting and holding each other close, taking advantage of the small window of calm they'd found.

"I'm sorry Robbie" Laura said

"What for?" Robbie frowned in surprise at her apology

"My family turning up like this, on our first Christmas together"

"Hey, I said, it's not a problem"

"I'm afraid my family can be like this sometimes"

"Like what?"

"Just turning up and barging in and calling the shots"

"That's a bit harsh, eh?"

"Well, I'm glad you think so, you might feel differently after it's happened a few times"

Robbie laughed and shrugged his shoulders. After the initial unexpected aspect of it all he hadn't really minded the intrusion and although he'd been looking forward to spending Christmas with just Laura he'd quite liked having a full house.

"It's not the Christmas I thought we had planned, that's for sure" Laura continued, still hoping to compensate for her family.

"Well, that's what Boxing Day night's for" Robbie said back and he smiled at her, eyebrows raised in an effort to reassure her.

"I'm glad you don't mind" Laura said, still unsure

"Of course not, families are like this, aren't they? It's, well, it's the way it is and it's just something you have to go with. It's what happens when you, well, y' know . . ."

"What? Robbie?"

"Y'know. . ."

"When you love someone?"

"Yeah." He said and his hand went to her cheek and with a sweet almost bashful smile "Exactly that. When you love someone"

Laura felt her heart swell and felt a flush of affection in her stomach from Robbie's words. They gazed at each other, Robbie still smiling back at her, not as bashful now he'd articulated what he felt, in a manner of speaking, along with the tenderness of his touch as he held her in his arms.

Still under the mistletoe Robbie and Laura shared a long gaze until their private tryst was interrupted by a dull knock and then a soft galloping noise. They both looked down to see Lily's cork toy hit the skirting board, followed by Samson, at speed, who pounced and sank his teeth into it.

Lily followed a second later squealing with laughter

"This is, like, the best Christmas ever!" she declared

Robbie and Laura laughed at Lily's giddy conclusion and watched as she picked up the cork and feather and tossed it back into the living room. Samson shot after it followed by Lily squealing with merriment.

Laura looked back up to Robbie, her hands caressing his back

"I love you too" She said, softly and with a sweet awareness at the moment. And they kissed again, and above them, moving on its own as if by some magic, the mistletoe slowly revolved before coming to rest in the peace of the Christmas afternoon.

AN: Well, folks, that's about it for this for now. Sorry I didn't get this finished in time for Christmas – there may be more mileage but not right now I suppose. I hope you are all well, thanks for your readership and comments and reviews. Long may Robson continue into the new year and beyond. . .