Tanith Panic, thank you for your review. It did seem quite late to be putting in holiday application - though I don't think it says when Robyn and Lofty putting their requests. I'm glad you're enjoying it - I'd like a happy ending for Robyn. But whether I'll write one...

Dylan walked stealthily down the corridor towards the cupboard. He was already starting to think of it as their cupboard. His and Ben's. They'd never been in the cupboard together before today, but Dylan was hoping it might become a regular occurrence. It was close enough to the main part of the ED for them to be able to go there without arousing comment, but not so close that anyone was likely to see them go in.

A couple of nurses appeared up ahead of him. They were chattering away about some TV programme set in a hospital which was nothing like the real thing, but they stopped when they saw Dylan and gave him a funny look.

Dylan tried not to feel hurt. He was used to it, after all. He'd been getting funny looks all his life.

But it was no use. He was hurt.

After that little incident, the cupboard no longer seemed like an exciting adventure, but the way he was feeling now, what he needed more than anything was to be held in Ben's arms.

Dylan checked the corridor was empty before opening the door and going inside. "Hello, Ben."

There was a shocked silence, then a disappointed voice. "How did you know I was here? Could you see me in the light from the corridor?"

"No, I could smell you," said Dylan. He put his arms around Ben. "It was a very nice smell. Unlike first thing this morning."

"I told you, Dylan: that was Dervla, not me!"

Dylan let go of him. "I should kick you out of here for daring to cast aspersions on my dog. Instead, I'll just give you the bad news."

He could picture Ben's face falling; the sad look in those beautiful eyes. "Mrs Beauchamp said no?"

"Mrs Beauchamp said yes," said Dylan. "The bad news is that she's somehow guessed who I'm spending Christmas with. Oh, and so has Zoe. You didn't tell Robyn about us, did you?"

"No, of course not!" said Ben. "I haven't told anybody." He paused. "I would like to though. I'm proud to be with you and if you were happy with it, I'd want the whole ED to know."

Dylan thought about it for a moment but shook his head decisively. Then he added a firm: "No," on the grounds that it was dark and Ben wouldn't be able to see what his head was doing. "Our relationship is our private business and there's no need for everyone to know." At least not until I'm sure you really love me and you won't be off as soon as you meet someone better. Like Jack on reception… I've heard you singing Christmas carols in harmony. He's not as good as you, but he is better than me.

Ben kissed him sweetly. "That's fine if that's how you feel. I really don't think most people would bat an eyelid… well, apart from me batting mine at you… but there's no need to tell everyone. If Zoe and Max can keep it quiet, why can't we?" He gave Dylan a hug. "And we get to spend Christmas together!"

Dylan's spirits rose even more. And not just his spirits. "Rita said yes?"

"Well, she hasn't said yes yet," said Ben. "But I'm pretty hopeful. I know Robyn and Jacob have got the day off, but Louise is working; Charlie's working; Tash was going to have the day off, but she changed it because her partner's working on Christmas Day… I think there's a good chance. I've just got to wait for Rita to confirm it."

Dylan caught Ben's head in his hands, running his fingers through the curls. "This is just a thought. But I have had an idea for what we can do while you're waiting."

"I think you should show me exactly what you mean," said Ben.

Fifty minutes later, Dylan and Ben switched the light on and looked at one another.

"You don't look terribly tidy…" said Dylan.

"I think I've torn your shirt," said Ben.

"And I'm sure it wasn't an accident," countered Dylan.

Ben could see he was slightly annoyed. "It was an accident, but I'm sorry. Have you got another one you can change into?"

"Yes… your favourite," said Dylan, and Ben groaned. "I keep it here for just such an occasion." He went towards the door and switched the light off. "I'll go first. You wait a couple of minutes, then follow me. It might be as well if we go to different bathrooms."

Ben had to admit he was slightly disappointed, but sharing a bathroom with a topless Dylan was never a good way of staying tidy. "You should probably go to the nearer ones. I don't think anyone would be too shocked if they saw I'd been ravished, but it's probably not the kind of thing they expect from you."

"Okay," agreed Dylan. He gave Ben another kiss, then opened the door and left. Almost immediately, he heard Dylan's voice again. "Connie. Hello. I was just…"

"I can guess what you were doing. Your flies are undone," said Connie.

Ben cringed for the embarrassment he knew Dylan would be feeling. All he wanted was to run out of the cupboard and hug Dylan tight. He reluctantly decided he'd better not. He listened for the sound of Dylan's footsteps walking away.

Someone rapped on the cupboard door. "Don't forget, your shift starts in ten minutes, Ben," said Connie. "Now, please come out as soon as you're decent. I want to show Jacob something in there and it's not the kind of thing that would interest you."

"I've got something that might interest him, though," said Jacob.

Ben made a rather embarrassed exit just in time to see Connie hit Jacob.

"Hey! Connie, that hurt!" said Jacob. "But don't worry. I can get my revenge. I know how to make you scream."

Ben hurried away down the corridor, wishing his hair was even thicker so he couldn't hear what Connie and Jacob were saying.

"You make me scream in here and I'll have you in my office!" hissed Connie.

Jacob chuckled. "I'll look forward to it."

"I don't think I can think of anything I'd really hate to get for Christmas," said Louise. "I'm pretty flexible, me. There aren't many things I'm not happy with."

Robyn kept a straight face with an effort

"But I suppose socks are a bit rubbish," said Louise. "And gloves. And tea cosies. Seriously, Robyn. If you ever get me a tea cosy, I will have to unfollow you."

"Don't tempt me!" said Robyn lightly, as she knocked 'tea cosy' off her mental list of 'Things I could buy Louise for Christmas'.

"And vouchers for shops I wouldn't be seen dead in," said Louise, "though last year my cousin gave me a Primark voucher so I used it to buy her something from Primark for her birthday (obviously, I did use the online store: I didn't actually go inside the shop) and she really liked it. Though she did keep inviting me out shopping with her after that."

Robyn smiled. "I really think I've honestly loved everything I've ever been given for Christmas. Except for that time I had a boyfriend who gave me some condoms. I think it was supposed to be a hint."

"What did you give him?" said Louise. "His marching orders?"

"I did, actually!" said Robyn. She looked over Louise's shoulder. "Hey, Lofty, have you heard about your holiday yet?"

"I was just going to check now," said Ben.

Robyn went and stood next to him, peering around his arm at the screen.

"Stop looking at my password!" said Ben, smiling, as he pretended to push her out of the way.

"I wasn't," said Robyn. "I already know it. You told me last week when we were drunk."

Ben turned to look at her in horror. He had far too many emails from Dylan to feel happy about Robyn getting into his email account.

Robyn laughed and shoved him playfully. "Oh, don't worry. You didn't actually tell me the right password. What have you got to hide, anyway?"

"Nothing," said Ben distractedly.

"There, you got it!" said Robyn triumphantly as she spotted an email from Rita in Ben's inbox. "Open it; open it!"

Ben opened the email.

Dylan ran across the boat and wrestled the plate from Ben's hand. "Ben, what are you doing?"

"I was giving Dervla some food like you said," said Ben.

"Ben, that was my dinner! Our dinner!" Dylan looked down at the plate. To his horror, there were no sausages left. He must have tipped them onto the floor when he was taking the plate from Ben. He looked over at Dervla, just in time to see her eating what seemed to be the last one. "Now look what you made me do!"

Ben looked adorably helpless. "I'm sorry, Dylan. I thought they were for Dervla."

Dylan hardened his heart to the adorable helplessness. "For once, Ben, can't you just use your brain? Maybe you should cut off that mop of yours. Maybe then a sensible thought might get out once in a while."

"I thought you loved my hair," said Ben.

Dylan sighed impatiently. He did love Ben's hair, but that wasn't the point. Even the fact Ben had given their dinner to Dervla wasn't really the point. "Though what should I expect when you can't book a simple day off work?"

Ben's eyes flashed. "I tried my best, Dylan."

"But leaving it to the last minute: what did you expect?" said Dylan.

"I didn't leave it any later than you did," said Ben mildly. "You were just lucky that Mrs Beauchamp and Zoe didn't want to spend Christmas Day alone. If Zoe was still with Max, or if Connie's daughter was coming for Christmas, there's no way you would have got the day off."

Dylan slammed the plate down on the counter. "So, it's my fault, is it? Just because I didn't happen to mention what was perfectly obvious, you assumed I wouldn't want to spend Christmas with you and you didn't book the day off."

"No, Dylan, I'm not saying it's your fault," said Ben. He held out his arms. "Come here."

Dylan turned away. "You'll be lucky if I come anywhere tonight."

Ben's arms dropped to his side. "Dylan, I tried my best. I'm really sorry. If I could go back in time and book it earlier, you know I would."

"Oh, that makes it all better!" snapped Dylan.

Ben took another step towards Dylan. He held out his arms again. He felt one of them brush against the kitchen counter, but he didn't worry about it. Not until Dylan's plate crashed to the floor. "Dylan… I'm so sorry…"

"Oh, just get out of here, you clumsy idiot!" shouted Dylan. "Go on. Go home!"

Ben stood for a moment in shock. Then he picked up his coat and bag and left the boat.

Dylan sank to the floor in misery, looking at the broken pieces of plate. He knew it was his fault. He was the one who'd put the plate on the edge of the counter and Ben was usually only clumsy when he was nervous or intimidated.

Dervla trotted over and licked his hand, but not even that made Dylan feel better.