Title: White Christmas

Chapter 8 – Christmas Eve

Dedication: Nat, Blaire, Megan, Manda, Mandy, Haylz and Chantal!

"Ugh." Jonesy rolled over and groaned.

"Morning." Susie giggled.

"My head hurts." Jonesy groaned again.

"Doesn't surprise me." Susie laughed. "From what I heard you drank quite a bit yesterday."

"Ugh." He moved his arm and hit himself in the head with his cast and Susie laughed again. "What happened?" He asked lifting up his arm.

"You broke your arm." Susie replied.

"How?"

"I'm not sure exactly. I was told you fell down stairs. But there were no stairs in the pub so…"

"Oh god…" Jonesy closed his eyes again.

"So you remember." Susie grinned. "Please, do tell me what happened."

"Oh god. You didn't see it did you?"
'No. you were at the hospital by the time we finished shopping. You know it's really strange how much you can drink in two hours." Susie laughed. "You really should learn to control your alcoholism."

"I only had one beer." Jonesy defended himself.

"And two shots of vodka and several glasses of bourbon, not to mention the rest."

"Did I really drink that much?"

"Yeah. You can blame my brother for that. When he gets drunk he really gets DRUNK!" Susie laughed. "Here. Drink this. It will make you feel better." Susie handed him a glass of orange liquid. Jonesy took a sip and spat it out and pushed the glass away.

"What is this stuff?" He screwed up his face.

"Gross I know. But it works. Cures a hangover no matter how much you drank the night before." Susie laughed. "Drink it you'll feel much better. Even if it does taste really bad." Susie replied shoving the glass towards him again.

"Ugh." He sighed and drank some more. "I think I'm going to be sick."

"No you're not. That's just the feeling you get when you drink it."

"No I really am going to be sick." Jonesy put the glass down and rushed into the bathroom. Susie laughed and waited for him to walk out of the bathroom.

"Serves you right for drinking so much. Now come on we've got to get ready for the ball tonight. I'm heading out with the rest of the girls for a day at the spa to prepare. I'll meet you downstairs in the ballroom at eight?"

"Sure." Jonesy replied. He went to give Susie a kiss but she backed off.

"Not until you've had a shower."

There was a knock at the door.

"That will be the girls. See you later." She laughed and walked out of the room.

"Hey Amanda. Where are the others?"

"We are meeting them at the spa later. First of all we've got to go for a little drive."

"What do you mean?"

"Well we've got to pick Shelly up from the airport. But just be quiet because nobody else knows about it"

"What are you talking about?" Susie was confused.

"Well Jackson and Shelly have been having problems with their marriage, so we're going to help them get back together."

"And how exactly are you going to do that?" Susie asked.

"Well I have a plan. But we've got to be quick. Because otherwise Jackson will find out she's here."

"Okay then. Let's go." Susie agreed with a sigh.

"Shelly!" Susie threw her arms around her sister in law.

"Susie." Shelly smiled. "How are you? You look…pregnant."

"What?" Susie questioned. "No of course I'm not." Susie replied.

"Oh. Well you look like you're glowing."

"Because she's engaged." Amanda walked up.

"Manda!" Shelly beamed. "OMG it's so good to see you." They hugged.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"We came to pick you up."

"Where are the kids?"

"They are at the hotel with Jackson. You my dear are coming with us." Amanda put her arm around Shelly.

"Where are we going? I want to see the kids."

"You can see them tonight at the ball."

"Ball? What ball?"

"Come on. We'll be late to meet the girls at the spa." With that she dragged Shelly off and Susie was left to carry Amanda's bag.

"Mum" Shelly gave Ellen a hug.

"Shelly dear how are you?"

"I'm okay. A little tired. And I want to see my kids. Where are they?"

"They are all with the boys. We girls have the day off to relax and enjoy ourselves." Ellen explained.

"And to prepare ourselves for the Christmas Eve ball that Chuck has organised."

"There was a ball and nobody bothered to tell me? I would have brought a dress."

"Don't worry it's all organised. I picked out a beautiful dress for you to wear. And I bet once Jackson sees you in it he'll melt!"

"What?" Shelly asked. But before she had the chance to say anything she was dragged off to be pampered by the spa attendants.

"Hey someone left something for you." Amanda held up a box that had been left of Susie's pillow. Amanda, Susie and Shelly were all in Susie's room getting dressed for the ball.

"Ooh. It must be from Jonesy." Susie beamed.

"He spoils you."

"Wow it's so beautiful." Susie was blown away when she opened the box and saw the necklace. It was a silver heart pendant with a decorative inscription and a small red ruby in the corner.

"It will go with your dress." Amanda grinned. "Perfect."

"Okay let's put it on." Susie held her hair back while Amanda did up the clasp.

"There." Susie turned around and looked at herself in the mirror.

"You look perfect. He'll love you." Shelly smiled.

"You look amazing too."

"Thanks." Shelly was wearing a long gold gown which fell to the floor, showing off her figure nicely. "So do you Amanda."

"Yeah. I do look mighty fine hey." They all laughed. Amanda was wearing a baby blue short skirt gown which had a wavy hemline and spaghetti straps.

"Are we ready to head down and WOW the boys?" Amanda asked.

"Okay let's go!" They linked arms and wandered down towards the elevator.

"Ellen, wow you look amazing."

"Thankyou Evan." She smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You look rather handsome yourself. All of you boys do." She beamed at them.

"Not quite as good looking as our girls though. Look here they come." Aaron looked up and everyone followed his gaze to where Amanda, Shelly and Susie were walking down the stairs. Susie was following behind everyone and Jonesy's jaw dropped when the others stepped out of the way and he could see Susie properly. She was wearing a long slinky red dress, which fell to the floor and had splits up both sides so when she moved it showed off her legs. As she turned around he could see the very low back and the halter top.

"Wow Susie you look…wow." Jonesy couldn't think of what to say.

"You don't look half bad yourself." She winked.

"You're wearing my necklace." He smiled at her.

"It's beautiful. Thankyou." She replied.

"Wow Shelly, you look…amazing." Jackson smiled at her.

"Thankyou." She replied, not looking at him.

"Hey look…I'm sorry about; well I'm sorry about everything. I love you so much and I never want to hurt you or our kids. They deserve to have two parents. And you don't deserve a husband like me."

"Yes, yes I do deserve you. You're the best guy a girl could want. You're the sweetest, kindest, gentlest father and husband I know. And I wouldn't want it any other way." Shelly leaned in and kissed him.

"I love you Shelly Belly."

"I love you Jacky Boy." They laughed and kissed again. Everyone around them started clapping and cheering. Jonesy turned to Susie and placed a kiss gently on her lips. They smiled at each other and he wrapped his arm around her.

Okay well I'm going to leave it there cos I'm tired. But there will be more now. I've decided to make it longer lol. Cos I wanna include new years lol. Well bye for now. Reviews please!

Jiggly!