Mark put the presents in the boot, Rachel and Dad in the back seat and made it to Susan's, so far unscathed by Christmas. Rachel was far from pleased when he wouldn't let her open presents yet.

"We're all doing them together at Chloe's."

"Fine." Rachel put on the headphones of the disc man Jen had got her.

Susan came out with James in his car seat in one hand and three shopping bags full of gifts precariously in the other.

"Merry Christmas." She grinned.

Mark took James' seat, "Merry Christmas." He buckled James in while Susan piled in the back.

Rachel removed her head phones and offered to take one of the bags on her lap.

"Thanks." Susan shut the door and the car pulled away from the curb.

"Careful, she's a present monger." Mark warned, catching Susan's eye in his rear vision mirror.

"At least I'm not the grinch."

Susan just laughed, holding Mark's eyes in the mirror for a moment longer than was probably wise.

Little Suzie and Rachel tore into the presents as soon as they were let loose, the adults only a minute or two behind. Rachel helped James with his when she'd finished with her own and insisted they all listen to the backstreet boys Christmas album Susan had picked out.

Susan escaped their scowls to help in the kitchen. She'd opened all the presents for her – except Mark's. It wasn't under the tree with the others and she wouldn't ask but the curiosity was making her restless. The Turkey still had another hour to go but she could grate some chocolate for melting... to dip the strawberries in.

It was quite the feast when it came and everyone was full well before the plates were empty. Rachel helped Chloe clear the table, keen for desert.

"I think I'll have to walk off the first course before there'll be any room for more." Mark's father rubbed his stomach affectionately.

"There's some fun ice sculptures at the park." Chloe suggested.

"They won't last long at this temperature but we could go down and check them out." Joe took piled up the last of the dirty plates and handed them to Chloe.

Susan offered to stay and make the finishing touches on desert and Mark had one ritual he wasn't willing to miss –

"After that much food, you have to have an afternoon nap."

His dad made a comment about being an old man. Mark only glared at him then got comfortable in the recliner Joe had recommended.

Everyone gone, the house was quiet. Mark was asleep once Susan was finished with the desert. She took a cream covered spoon with her, licking it clean when she found Mark sleeping in the lounge. She'd had enough so she scouped the last of the cream off the spoon with one finger and let it drop onto his nose.

Sleepily he wiped it all over his face and within moments was wide awake. Susan was laughing at him in a very endearing way.

"What is it?" he sat up.

"Cream." She sounded almost innocent.

He shook his head, "Oh no you didn't."

She laughed again. He was up in a flash, the cream that hadn't soaked into his skin, cupped in one hand quickly finding her face. She was laughing too hard to squeal.

Giggling and wrestling, their faces covered in cream, neither thinking about their actions until they stopped.

She was so close he could feel her breath on his chin. "I win." She spoke breathlessly, about to smear the last down the side of his face.

He caught her hand. "I don't think so." He knew he should pull away from her but those eyes drew him in again and again.

She smiled nervously, her hands feeling very warm on his shoulders but not quite able to let go.

"I can't do this." Mark breathed

"Do what?" she dreaded his answer.

"Pretend..." he took a slow breath, "I can't keep pretending."

"What are you pretending?" Susan asked confused.

"I know it was over a year ago but I just can't let you go and pretending that I don't love you is pure torment."

She hadn't been expecting that.

The look of shock on her face had been what he feared.

He let her go and stepped back bewildered. He couldn't just leave half way through Christmas dinner but he needed to get out of there.

"Why didn't you say something?" she stepped closer to him, reaching out.

He met her eyes and in a few moments came up with a bite size answer. "I hardly see Rachel – I don't want to miss my Child growing up... again. I don't want to miss anything with James. But if you knew... it wasn't worth the risk."

"What if it was?" she waited for him to register her meaning but he only looked confused, "Mark. I have always... I never stopped wanting you. I thought you only wanted James and I've messed this up so bad I couldn't ask any more of you but... I still love you."

He held her eyes for a moment and when he found the truth of her words in them he closed the space between them with one step, breathing her name in awestruck adoration the moment before he kissed her.

A minute or so later she came up for air, her hands tracing his face and neck, refreshing a long buried memory. "You should have said something."

He smiled, "You should have said something."

She kissed him again then hugged him tight. "I missed you."

"I've been here for weeks."

"That's not what I meant."

"I know." He smiled cheekily.

She grinned, still stunned.

Then with a pointless knock at the door Mark's father walked in, followed by the rest of the walking party...