1979

Mickey is cowering behind the Christmas tree. He watches, helpless as his parents argue. Rita slaps Billy across the face and he immediately hits her back, knocking her to the floor.

"Mum!" Mickey crawls out from behind the tree.

"Stay where you are!" Billy yells. Mickey does, and he hates himself for it.

1989

"Wow!" Mickey enthuses as he opens the box containing the white trainers. "These are cool!"

"How did you afford those?" asks Billy, his voice dangerously quiet.

"I saved some of my bingo money." Rita doesn't look at him. Mickey has tensed up slightly, waiting for the blow to fall.

After a moment Billy shrugs. "Better try them on."

Mickey breathes a sigh of relief and takes the trainers out of the box.

1993

Mickey looks at himself in the mirror. He looks so strange in his uniform. He remembers all the trouble he got into at school and smiles slightly. What would his teachers say now?

"You look so handsome," Rita gushes. She was the one who suggested Mickey should become a copper, after seeing how he dealt with a customer in the pub where Rita worked who was giving her hassle. Mickey had scoffed at the idea, then remembered how he fantasised about joining the police as a kid.

"I'm gonna be a detective," he says. "Won't be in this uniform for long." He has big plans, big ambitions.

1999

Mickey is spending Christmas Day alone. He can't be bothered going to see his parents and his friends all have plans with their own families. He could have offered to work at the station today, but that would be even more depressing.

He pours himself a large scotch and sits down in front of the TV.

2000

It's the first time he's seen his old man since his mum left him. He looks sad, tired. Mickey can't imagine why he was ever afraid of him.

"Thanks for coming, son." He looks so pitiful, Mickey can't really bring himself to hate him any more.

It's a relief when he finally leaves to drive over to his mother's. As he starts the car, he makes a vow to himself that he won't ever end up alone like his old man.

2003

Mickey is alone and drinking heavily when Jack calls. "Merry Christmas. How are you doing?" Jack asks.

Mickey stops himself from laughing at that. He knows Jack is only trying to help. "I'm alright, yeah." He can hear voices in the background. "Where are you?"

"I'm with Laura and the kids."

"That's great." At least he's not with Rachel. "I'll let you get back to them."

"I could come over later, if you like?"

"Nah, I'm good."

"How's MIT?"

"Great, yeah." Mickey makes his voice sound brighter. "I'd better go. Happy Christmas." He hangs up before Jack can say anything else.

2004

"Will you marry me?"

He holds out the ring to Liz, who takes it with watery eyes.

"Michael, of course I will!" She throws her arms around him. Mickey smiles into her hair. Delaney is behind bars, the trial is over. He's a DS in the National Crime Squad and now he has a loving fiancée.

Life is good.

2005

Alone again. Instead of staying at home this year, he goes to the pub. Maybe if he gets very drunk, he can forget about Liz being in prison, about Delaney, about being kicked back down to a DC. Maybe he'll even meet someone. Season of goodwill and all that.

God, he hates Christmas.

2009

The streets are cold. He wonders what he was thinking, suggesting this undercover role. Sleeping outside is harder than he ever imagined, even without the threat of being kicked awake in the morning.

He'll check in with work from a phone box tomorrow. It's strange not having his mobile on him. His old man has been on at him to join him over the festive period. Maybe he'll go and see him once this job is over.

Then again, maybe not.

2011

Mickey is working today. It's his first Christmas at Sun Hill since Jack retired. The CID office is very quiet apart from the occasional sound of the phone ringing and he yawns as he reads over his paperwork.

"Fancy a pint, Mickey?" asks Neil, coming out of the Superintendent's office holding his jacket. Mickey looks at his watch. It's gone lunchtime.

"Yeah, go on then Guv."

2015

Mickey lays the flowers at his mum's grave. "Hi, Mum," he says aloud. He feels foolish talking to the grave, but there's no one else around. It's Christmas Day, after all.

"So, the big news is I'm a DS again. Good thing too, or I might have been booted back into uniform." He smiles. "You always said I looked handsome in my uniform, remember?"

He sits quietly, listening to the sound of the church bells ringing in the distance. Then he gets up before his legs go numb, ready to drive home.

2022

"I can't believe you've never seen this," says Kezia as they settle down in front of It's a Wonderful Life.

"It's like five hours long, and in black and white," Mickey grouses.

"It's a classic."

The kids are at their feet, playing with their presents. The film starts and despite the weird beginning involving angels Mickey finds himself getting into the story of George Bailey. What would the world be like if Mickey had never been born? Probably not that different, he concedes, but he's glad to be here anyway.

He no longer dreads Christmas. Despite everything, his life has turned out pretty good.

"Are you still awake?" Kezia whispers.

He smiles. "Only just."

The film finally ends and Mickey gets up to go and phone Jack.