History Repeated Part 20: A Little Bit Dangerous

Tess' laughter filled the room. She hadn't stopped laughing since Alex had kissed her underneath the mistletoe.

Alex had brought out the Christmas bon-bons, and was reading out the lame jokes that came with them, "Tess, what's worse than when it's raining cat's and dongs?"

Tess shook her head as a grin played on her face, "I dunno, what?"

Alex laughed out loud to himself as he looked down at the answer, "When it's hailing taxi's."

Tess burst into a fit of laughter, as did Libby, Harrison, and Charlotte. The joke was hilariously pathetic to all of them.

"That's bad, Alex," Tess giggled hysterically.

Nick and Sally remained quiet in their seats, just observing the going on's around them. Both were almost ready to leave - both were sick of the charade.

"Okay, another one," Alex stopped laughing long enough to read out the next joke that he had, "What will you get if all the cars in the USA are red?"

"Ummm..." Tess didn't have a clue.

"A red carnation," Alex laughed loudly, causing Tess and the kids to follow. Out of all the jokes that Alex had read out, that was by far the funniest.

The kids laughter had eventually died down, but Tess couldn't stop. Tears began to leek from her eyes from laughing so hard. The sight of Tess kept Alex laughing as well.

"Oh please," Nick mumbled, "It wasn't that funny, guys"

Between laughs, Alex said, "You're just losing your sense of humor in your old age, Nick"

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Tess had gone upstairs to escape anymore of Alex's bad jokes. She needed a bit of a breather.

Staring into the bathroom mirror she that there was a much happier person staring back at her. She wasn't looking at all like the woman that had appeared there earlier that morning.

She smiled and sighed, "Thanks Alex"

Leaving the bathroom, Tess collided with Nick.

Looking up at him she asked, "Are you following me?"

"Tess we-"

She put her hand up to silence him. This thing between them had gone on for far too long.

"No we can't talk about us, because there is no us, Nick... and you really need to accept that there won't be an us, again"

He looked at her, stunned. The way she had kissed him earlier... it had given him hope.

"Tess if you give me time-"

She shook her head, cutting him off, "You're not listening, Nick! I don't want to be with you. And would you please stop following me around!" With that, Tess marched into the master bedroom, closing the door behind her.

She didn't like being so abrupt with Nick, but she needed to be. He had to understand where he stood. Their relationship could never work, which is why, in the past it failed. Tess couldn't go down that road again.

Tess knew that those feelings for Nick would fade with time, just as they did before.

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"Why don't you just leave her alone, mate?" Alex grilled his brother as they both pecked at leftovers in the kitchen.

"And why don't you mind your own business?" Nick snapped. He wasn't in the mood for Alex's advice.

"She doesn't want to be with you, mate. Stop pushing her," Alex warned.

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Sally barged into Tess' room, "I know what you're trying to do, Tess"

Tess turned from her place at the dressing table, "Come right in, Sally"

Tess thought it was highly rude that Sally hadn't even knocked.

"So, what is it I'm trying to do?" Tess asked, looking over at Sally.

"You came back here to get Nick back, didn't you?"

Tess rolled her eyes and let a small laugh escape her mouth, "I came back to spend Christmas with my family, Sally."

"No, you didn't! Oh I can see what you're doing. You're using Alex to make Nick jealous!"

"You know what, Sally?" Tess marched up to the woman, "If I wanted Nick back, I would've had him weeks ago! I wouldn't need to come back here! He was quite open with me about his feelings"

"You're lying!" Sally snarled

"Am I?" Tess asked, pushing past Sally and moving out towards the stairs.

Sally caught up to Tess, grabbing hold of her arm, "Don't you dare walk away from me, Tess"

Tess glared at Sally, "Or what?"

Tess attempted to escape Sally's tight grasp. As she did so, her footing was lost and she tumbled down the stairs. She landed hard on the landing with a thud.

Alex and Nick both dropped the food they were eating at the sound of the tumble and rushed over to the stairs.

"Tess?" Alex hovered over Tess, "Tess can you hear me?"

He glanced up at his sister-in-law, she was still at the top of the stairs, "Bloody hell, Sally!"

Sally moved down the stairs and stood on the landing, looking down at Tess, "Is she hokay?"

Tess opened her eyes, "Fine," She answered.

She looked up at Alex. Worry was written all over the man's face. But there was anger there too.

"Are you hurt? Are you in any pain Tess?" He asked.

Her hand was resting protectively over her stomach, a gesture that only Alex could understand, "I just... I think I just hurt my wrist"

"Are you sure that's all?" Alex asked, still worried.

"Alex," Tess sat up and laid her hand on his, "I'm okay."