It was the week before Christmas and everyone was rushing around making sure everything was ready for Christmas Day. Richard had escaped to their bedroom for a few minutes peace. He lounged on the settee staring into the fire which is where Audrey found him ten minutes later.

"Did you invite Henry for Christmas darling?" She asked

Richard nodded "Yes he said he would love to come."

"And will he be staying over?"

"Yes...in a guest room far away from my mother"

Audrey smirked "Alright darling"

He held out his hand to her as soon as she took it he tugged her down to sit next to him. Putting his arm around her shoulder when she nestled close to him.

"Our first Christmas together darling, are you looking forward to it?" he asked her

"Well our first together as a couple don't you remember playing sardines a few Christmases ago with me darling?" Audrey grinned.

Richard held her tighter "Yes I do but you may have to remind me how to play darling, perhaps we can find a cupboard somewhere."

"Oh I think we can do that" Audrey lifted her head and kissed him.

Richard broke the kiss and rested his forehead on hers "I have a surprise for you" he whispered

Audrey pulled back "Really? I love surprises, nice ones I mean"

"I know you do but the last few times I've tried to surprise you haven't gone very well" he sighed

She brought her hand to his face stroking her thumb across his cheek "Darling I'm sure I'll love your surprise"

"Alright but if you don't like it I can take it back it's not a problem" he then produced a box from under a cushion on the settee.

Audrey recognised the packaging immediately as a Cartier box. For a moment she wondered if he had bought her what she had bought him.

Taking the box from him she opened it and couldn't help but laugh, this sweet man of hers had given her a love bracelet. The same love bracelet she had bought for him. She was going to give it to him for Christmas but then she had the piano idea and decided to save it for a later date.

Richard wasn't sure what to make of her reaction thinking she didn't understand it's meaning he explained "It's a love bracelet darling, I know we wear our rings but I thought this...why are you laughing?"

"Oh I'm sorry darling...it's just great minds really do think alike" she got up and retrieved an identical box from her bedside table.

She sat back down next to him and gave him the box.

Richard took it and opened it to reveal a larger version of the bracelet he'd gIvan her "You got me one too" he checkled.

When she had gone into Cartier to pick it up she wasn't sure he would wear it, especially as the only way to remove it was with the tiny screwdriver in the box but she'd put her doubts to one side and purchased it.

"You don't really wear jewellery so I wasn't sure if you'd like it or even want to wear it but it symbolises eternal love and I will love you for eternity" Audrey explained.

Richard unable to speak past the lump in his throat pressed his lips to hers in a tender kiss.

"Well, shall we put them on?" he said taking the mini screwdriver from the box. Richard unscrewed the bracelet carefully then placed it on his wrist handing the screwdriver to Audrey to do up. Audrey did the same with her bracelet letting Richard tighten it on her wrist.

"I have got you a Christmas present as well you know, the bracelet was just a token of my love" he said holding her hand, his thumb stroking over her knuckles.

"I've got you something else to darling but you will have to wait till Christmas Day"

Dropping her hand he wrapped his arm around her shoulders pulling her to him and leaning back on the settee. Audrey cuddled up to him, her arm across his waist.

"Darling, what were your christmases like when you were younger" she asked him

"I don't remember a Christmas with my father, he died when I was very young. We didn't have a lot of money so we didn't really have any presents. But mother used to try and make it festive and we always had a turkey. She was part of a club, you saved a bit each week and by Christmas you could afford the turkey."

All of a sudden the lights went out plunging the room into darkness the only light in the room coming from the fireplace.

"Must be a power cut the snow must have disrupted the lines, don't worry darling we have plenty of candles" Richard said

"Mmm...candlelight is very romantic" Audrey sighed

"What more could I want, candlelight, a roaring fire and you, what a perfect evening darling"