A team effort saw the table laden with platters of food. Roast turkey, nut roast, stuffing, gravy, potatoes, yams, sprouts, carrots, parsnips and broccoli. Red candles in tall glass candelabras adorned a centre piece of red and gold ribbon with holly leaves.

Each place setting was arranged on a red and gold mat with festive napkins in gold napkin rings.

Beside each plate, Alice had placed a traditional English Christmas cracker. Cylinders of cardboard covered in red and green crepe paper and tied with Christmas ribbon.

As Le took his seat he eyed the green cracker beside his plate curiously. He picked it up. "What do I do with this?" He turned it round and over, examining it carefully. "Do I open it?"

Michael smiled. "It's a Christmas cracker. It's very 'British' Le. You pull it."

Le held each end of the cracker and tugged.

"Not like that, Le." Laughed Al. You hold one end and pull, someone else holds the other end. Inside is a silly toy, a joke, and a paper hat."

Michael smirked. "I've not pulled a cracker since I was in London in 1970." He sighed. "That was one hell of a Christmas."

Dom snorted. "Sounds like you pulled more than a cracker there!"

Michael smirked and twirled his finger on his moustache. "A pair of crackers, Dominic."

Marella rolled her eyes and groaned. "I know sarcasm is presumed to be the lowest form of wit, but I do believe innuendo beats it hands down."

"Marella, you must know by now I don't like to put innuendo in my sentences, but in this case, I just needed to slip one in." Michael sniggered as Marella pulled a face at him.

Cait scowled at Michael. "Think of Le please." she hissed.

Dominic laughed as he poured a glass of wine for Michael and Marella. "Cait, Le called Marella hot. I think the kid can cope with a little man talk, don't you?"

She pulled a face and glared at him.

Hawke tapped his glass with the side of his knife. "A toast to the best cook I know, Caitlin!"

The murmur of voices and clinking of glasses filled the room for a few seconds, then the snap and bang of crackers being pulled.

The contents of Marella's cracker shot across the table and landed in Michaels wine glass. Michael smirked and fished out a plastic ring, putting it on Marella's finger. She looked at the green plastic with a mischievous grin and wiggled her fingers. "Thank you Sir, I'll treasure it always."

Le was the first to find his joke. "Listen! listen! Where do snowmen go to dance?"

Elaine laughed. "Easy kid, Snow Balls!"

Dom groaned. "That's nothin'.. he pulled his eyeglasses out of his pocket and put them on. "How do you make a tissue dance?"

"Put a little boogie in it!" Screeched Le.

String raised his eyebrows, donned his green crown and read. "Why was the snowman rummaging through the carrots?"

Cait groaned. "That's an old one, He was picking his nose."

*****AW*****

Dominic was slumped in an armchair, snoring. Le stretched out on the floor, drawing a piece of tinsel from the tree across the floor, letting Snowball and Ptery chase it.

Cait, her feet tucked under her, was relaxing in a chair opposite Dom reading a book.

Elaine had taken her saxophone out to the porch to practice. The smooth sound of a slow blues number filled the cabin.

Hawke washed the dishes while Marella cleared the table around Michael and Alice, the only two still eating.

Michael picked up the plate with the dark fruit laden Christmas pudding and scooped another piece into his bowl. "You made this Al? It's delicious!" He said, scooping brandy butter onto it, cream and pouring port over the top. "And the port..." he paused as he consumed another spoonful. "…Takes it to another level."

"So I'm not completely useless in the kitchen then?" Grinned Alice as she helped herself to another portion. "You realise you're on your third helping?"

He nodded and swallowed. "We're the only two who like it. Would be a crime to waste it."

"It's delicious fried for breakfast. Leave some for the morning."

He swallowed. "Breakfast." He nodded slowly. "Good idea. I am feeling…." he tapped his chest with a clenched fist and belched loudly. "A little full."

Picking up the last items from the table, he carried them up to the counter, then headed for the lounge with his wineglass. Standing the glass on the side table, he loosened his belt and the waistband of his jeans, then stretched languorously the length of the couch, hands behind his head.

Marella swept through from the kitchen. She stopped and stared at Michael sprawled across the couch. "I see you've taken over."

He smirked. "You'd be ill advised to sit here. Apparently sprouts have the same effect as broccoli." The belch that accompanied the statement made Marella grimace.

"Advice taken, sir." She replied as she sank on to the pull-out near the door.

Silence had settled on the cabin, punctuated by the stertorous sound of Dominic Santini's snoring.

Caitlin put down her book, stretched and yawned. Swinging her legs down onto the floor, she stood up. "This won't do. I need to do something. Anyone wanna join me for a walk?"

Marella yawned. "I'll come. I could use some fresh air." Marella reached for her overnight bag behind the pull-out and retrieved a pair of sneakers and a jacket.

"Yea, why not? Count me in too." Said Al, heading for the door where she kept a pair of hiking boots.

Cait looked across the room. "String? How about it? Are you coming?"

"Nah, you girls go, I'll probably go…"

"...fishing?" Cait finished the sentence for him. She held his gaze, "I'd like to come with you." She said gently.

The kitchen counter was between them. Hawke studied her face and the realisation that she knew more than he had told her dawned. He reached for her hand, raised it to his lips and kissed it. "Tomorrow, I'll take you tomorrow."

*****AW*****

Caitlin was pulling on her walking shoes when the door opened, and Elaine walked in.

Caitlin smiled at the older woman, "Hey, we're goin' for a walk? D'ya want to join us?"

She gestured to the living room, where Dom and Michael were both snoring. "Hopefully, the company'll be more interesting than those guys."

Elaine smiled back. "You kids don't want an old broad like me tagging along now…"

"Nonsense! I know I want a chance to get to know you without Dom getting in the way." Cait whispered conspiratorially.

Elaine chuckled. "Yeah, he can be overly protective. Sure I'd love to come. Let me change my shoes."