Two new recruits arrive at Blackwall as Christmas approaches, Vaseline tries to pursue Marion and the squad see in the new year their way.

Monday morning arrived quicker than anticipated and everyone was gossiping about Rambo's leaving party and how most of them had raging hangovers the next morning. But the main topic of conversation was Vaseline's conversation with Marion, the third Marion in his sights, everyone thought it was a joke that he was pursuing another Marion. It was to much of a coincidence.

Vaseline arrived later than the rest of the squad, who had decided to come in early after Bayleaf had promised to make them breakfast. Everyone tried to act normal when he arrived.

"So how did it go chatting with Marion? " Charisma asked as Vaseline sat next to him while Malcolm looked up from the magazine he was reading.

"Fine we have exchanged phone numbers but that's it."

"Oh no date arranged then, shame. " Tony teased, sipping his can of Pepsi. Josie rolled her eyes,

"Rambo reckons that she doesn't spend much time with men because of her running the pub yet she gets a lot of attention."

"She is a lovely girl, puts me in mind of a doll. If something were to happen, you lot will be the first to know now can we get some grub, I'm starving." Vaseline said sharply as everyone gathered round the table.

"Seriously Vaseline, are you sure that if something were to happen between you and Marion Baines, that you won't mess it up like you did with the other two and not to mention others before? " Bayleaf remarked as he put the sauces on the table, Vaseline sighed heavily,

"No I won't and anyway you don't know what my other relationships were like. Don't go there! "

"I feel sorry for that Marion, blissfully unaware about your true intentions. " Josie said as she sat next to Tony, Malcolm smirked as Tate walked in with Sick note.

"Alright you lot settle down! I've got some news! " Tate announced as he sat at the table. Everyone stopped speaking for a moment.

"You'll be pleased now that we have recruited not one but two new firefighters to join us. They will be arriving this afternoon so please make them feel welcome, understood?"

"Oh nice one. It'll be nice to get abit of extra help around here. " said Bayleaf as he began passing round the slices of toast.

"Have you burnt that? " Vaseline asked as he was given his breakfast, he lifted his fork which had a bit of sausage on the end of it. Bayleaf ignored him as he gave the rest of the squad their breakfast.

"Its abit soon ain't it sir, what with Christmas coming? " said Sicknote but Tate responded quickly,

"Its never to early to recruit Sicknote. "

"Speaking of which whose going to help Hallam put the decorations up? " asked Charisma as he scooped up his beans. No one answered just as Hallam came in,

"Oh that's nice. So much for team spirit. Thanks lads. Josie, you'll help won't you? " he asked Josie who, ignoring the little sniggers, said,

"Sure, give us some tinsel and lights, I'll join you in ten. "

"At least I've got one firefighter who is on my side. "

Tony and Charisma giggled and Josie glared at them both causing them to bow their heads, Tate started eating his breakfast and kept glancing at his phone,

"How's Nancy? " asked Bayleaf as he sipped his tea.

"She's fine, she's just seeing her mother at the moment, she broke her leg. She's coming home Wednesday. "

Suddenly the doorbell rang and Tate and Hallam made their way downstairs as the two new firefighters arrived.

Ten minutes later, they came back upstairs bringing with them the new recruits. One of them was tall and muscular with dark hair and was very good looking, the other was younger and had to have been in his first year at least.

"Everyone this is Firefighter George Green, on transfer from north london", he pointed at the elder of the two,

"And this is Firefighter Kevin Medhurst, this is his first firefighting role." The younger man smiled and gave a small wave. Everyone smiled and introduced themselves just as the bell rang.

"Come with us you two, you'll have a blast! " said Bayleaf as they all made their way downstairs.

Later that evening, most of the watch with the exception of Sicknote and Charisma, were at the Oliver Twist, interacting with their new work mates over pints of bitter and pork scratchings. Vaseline kept looking towards the bar,

"Looking for Marion are we? " teased Malcolm which Vaseline ignored as he kept glancing over the bar. After a while he made his way there and saw an slightly overweight man with neatly parted dark hair. Brian Baines looked at him as he cleaned a tankard, whistling merrily as he smiled at Vaseline,

"What can I get you son? "

"I'm not ordering, is Marion in? "

"Why, do you know my daughter then? "

"Oh, she's your daughter? She said that this place was a family business. "

"Yeah, my inheritance of my dad. My elder brother was supposed to inherit but he's never liked this place so I had it instead. Anyway, my Marion isn't in tonight. Three hours ago, I became a granddad! My son Stevens wife gave birth to an eight pounds two ounces boy, their naming him Matthew bless them. She's at the hospital with her mum. Do you know her? "

"I'm just a friend, my congratulations to you. "

He sat back at his table, feeling disappointed but made a mental note to try again at the end of the week.

Kevin returned home at eleven and saw that his mother, Dulcie was still up watching the television. She had once been a very attractive woman and the object of every mans desire but three kids, an absent husband and continuous stress later, she had become prematurely aged and tired looking.

"Hello Kev, you OK? " she called out as he came in,

"It was good mum, I think I'm going to enjoy being a firefighter, the lads are fantastic and there is this girl, Josie and she is magnificent! Has Venetia come back? "

Dulcie shook her head and continued watching the telly. Venetia was Kevin's older sister and was a pretty girl to say the least but she was loud mouthed and attracted the wrong kind of man. Kevin also had a younger brother Mickey who attended Blackwall high school but he was a tearaway and often got in trouble, Dulcie often remarked that he had inherited his trouble making ways from his father.

"I'm off to bed Mum, don't stay up to late yeah? I love you. "

"I love you too son. "

Kevin walked upstairs and headed into his room.

At least he would get some normality at Black wall fire station because he certainly didn't get it at home.

Christmas came and went for the squad and they spent most of that time interacting with their new work mates, George and Kevin. George had been a firefighter for four years and was also a professional boxer, much to the amazement of the squad. He had an older sister named Beattie and often clashed with his brother in law Cyril. The couple had been married five years and already had three children, a set of male twins and a baby girl. George felt sorry for his sister and wished she had made wiser choices when it came to men. Kevin got along well with most of the squad and sometimes was the target of their pranks, not that it bothered him in the slightest.

Then New Year arrived and the squad did their own thing as they did every year; Bayleaf saw his daughter, Josie went to see her parents, Tony was spending his time with Dorothy, Sick note, Hallam and Tate were with their wives, Kevin, Malcolm and Charisma went to a party in Soho while George and Vaseline went to the Oliver Twist. Vaseline wanted to see Marion but she had gone out with her friends and a disappointed Vaseline ended up flirting with a local girl named Rhona, an ex of Georges, much to his amusement but nothing happened due to her overbearing mother taking her home due to too much alcohol and bad language.

"Told you she was trouble. " George mumbled while Vaseline stared mournfully at the bar. He didn't understand why he was feeling they way he was but there was something about Marion Baines that struck a cord with him.

Two Thousand and Eleven began as each year begun but Unbeknownst to the squad, Blackwall Fire Station would never be the same again.