School bell rang for the last time signalling the start of the Christmas holidays, normally he'd be out the door with the first of them but today he felt in no particular hurry to get home. The last few days had been tense with them barely speaking except for the mundane stuff of who was getting what by way of food, who was taking out the rubbish. He felt as if Christmas would pass in the same depressing dreary manner and he was at a loss on how to prevent it. He trudged slowly homewards, he'd even volunteered for extra shifts at Gnosh but all the spareones had already been allocated to students desperate for Christmas cash. He reached the front door and stood for a moment deliberating whether to go in; finally he searched in his pocket for the keys knowing he'd have to face her sometime. He let himself into their room and dropped his bag amazed at the transformation. When he'd left it had been disorganised, untidy, dark and dismal, now the place was spotless, decorated with gaudy trimmings from the market and a small artificial tree complete with lights winked in the corner. She was standing in the middle of the room, "Surprise" she whispered softly "Wow Becca! When did all this happen?" "I woke up this morning and decided I could either wallow in misery for another day or I could get off my backside and do something about this place. You were right about it the other night, this is just temporary. Things will get better but not if I don't have you" He crossed the room to her in a couple of strides and held her "You've always got me Becca, I'm not going anywhere" "But this wasn't what we planned, was it" she asked "We never thought we'd end up here like this" she indicated the room and then looked pointedly at her bump. He rubbed her stomach, "No" he said "we didn't plan on this but I wouldn't have it any other way" "You wouldn't turn back the clock?" she asked tentatively "No" he said more decisively than he felt. She'd made such an effort today, how could he raise the question of whether he was ready to be a father. She relaxed against him, tiredness overtaking her "Listen I'll make dinner, you sit down and relax" "No" she said firmly having tasted his culinary exploits "It'll be more relaxing if you sit down, I've already cooked!" She laughed and turned towards the small stove. She produced two bowls and they ate sat side by side on the small sofa. Later they lay spoon like in the dark and he buried his face in her hair, he thought about the small parcel that lay hidden underneath them, a bottle of her favourite perfume, exquisite and expensive, a book she'd mentioned in a wistful tone, an unnecessary extravagance but he'd managed to track it down. Best of all, a delicate silver bangle set with tiny pieces of turquoise, a gift to replace the one she'd given to Nancy but this one inscribed, she'd probably think it cheesy and tease him endlessly but he couldn't have resisted, amor vincit omnia. He pulled her closer, he couldn't have thought of anything more apt.