The mug of cocoa Tiffany was nursing kept her hands nice and toasty as she sat snuggled on the couch. Her oversized Christmas jumper helped it warm her all the way down to her knees, a precious gift from the man she was leaning against.

"You can't put it off anymore you know?"

She didn't look up from the marshmallows floating on the swirling chocolate as he spoke. She knew he was right of course, every second she spent sat in comfy bliss was just delaying the inevitable.

"You promised her over a month ago, you can't keep here waiting."

Tiffany drew her legs up underneath her in protest. Hearing it from someone else hammered home how little choice she had. It wasn't that she didn't want to spend the evening with her mother, it was just that it'd probably be really awkward. While they'd been getting steadily closer over the last few months, that had all been out in public. Too many people around for them to make a scene. But a dinner at her mother's house would just be the four of them, Jessie, Lola, Jay, and herself. She looked up at her giant boyfriend with pleading eyes.

"Don't you want to stay here too? I know you're not too fond of my mom either."

Warm brown eyes stared back down at her. He gave her a carefree smile as he wrapped a massive arm around her shoulder, pulling her gently to rest against his side.

"I do actually like Jessie, she just scares me a bit is all."

Tiffany chuckled softly into her mug. Jessie's flawless charm and unparalleled sex appeal always reduced the almost-seven-foot boy to a stammering mess, a fact the woman loved put to good use. He rubbed the side of her head affectionately as she took another sip.

"Besides, if we don't turn up soon she'll start calling. And you don't want Lola's cooking to go to waste, do you?"

She elbowed him in the side playfully. He was trying to make her feel guilty, more than likely due to his fondness of the skilled woman's food. Tiffany set her mug down as she thought. Jessie had definitely been better behaved these last few months. Dressing what was conservatively for her, keeping the conversation wholesome while they were together, staying mostly sober. She knew the woman was trying her best to reconnect with her daughter, and for her part Tiffany was trying to keep a more open mind when dealing with her mother.

She hopped to her feet with faint hope. Maybe Jessie would be a normal mom for the day? If so it could be a pleasant meal.

"Fine. Give me a little while to get ready, maybe put some pants on."

Jay's arms snuck around her waist, each one as thick as her leg. He kissed her neck softly from behind, drawing ticklish giggles from her.

"Should I get changed? Or is this good enough?"

She reached up and ran her fingers down the side of his face. Fluffy, dark blonde hair and a cheeky face alway made her smile when she saw him.

"Maybe throw a shirt on. Other than that you should be fine, it's never anything fancy with mom."

She had to stand up on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his lips. She sometimes forgot just how much of a height difference there was between them. He scampered off to the bedroom with a face as red as her sweater. Tiffany took a long stretch before grabbing the leggings she'd tossed over the back of the sofa. With her legs covered she grabbed a large framed picture from the dining table. She hoped Jessie would like it. It was an old photo from back when they lived with the Lapran family. Tiffany fingered the locket hanging round her neck, holding the same picture. Mr and Mrs Lapran stood beaming, while Jessie sat with a small Beli perched on her lap and a tiny baby in her arms. Seeing it alway reminded Tiffany of the time they'd been a proper family, back before she knew about Jessie's work. She placed a small kiss on the teen mom in the picture before setting it back in it's box. If they both tried, they could have times like that again.

Jay strode back in, pulling his jacket on.

"Ready?"

Tiffany held the box close to her chest, feeling a warm, nervous bubbling in her chest. Part of her was actually looking forward to seeing her mom again, especially to spend a Christmas together.

"Yeah, ready."