In this latest chapter I've added the change of location for where Ray wants to travel to, in the film Love Actually Kris Marshall's character Colin travels to America, so in this chapter with an A2A twist Ray decides to travel to Belgium. For most of this chapter I've kept it line very much like the film but there is one added scene with Derek and Geoff. Thanks for the reviews so far for this fanfic, really appreciate them. Unbeta'd.

Love at Christmas

Chapter 3: The Cabinet meeting

Prime Minister Gene Hunt's first Cabinet meeting wasn't as enjoyable as he originally hoped it ought to be, firstly the new female Home Secretary kept persistently fluttering her eyelashes at him which in turn made him uncomfortable and then there was the preparations to arrange for the arrival of the President of America James Keats who was visiting European Prime Ministers across Europe just before the festive holidays. Just what I need a difficult few weeks ahead for me and I have been in Number 10 for a few days. "Right I think we should be getting this first cabinet meeting started. I know that some of you have given various answers to the press regarding me becoming the PM. I don't blame you in time, I think we could all get along impressively, sometimes you may have to mind my occasional my bad mouth usually happens when I get frustrated, thinking that will need plenty of time to be worked on." He nervously laughed, only to find silence had fallen within the cabinet room.

The pressure was eased very much by the late arrival of Alex Drake. She looked well-dressed for work, long black skirt and long sleeved white blouse. She noticeably assisted the tea lady into the room, with the tea trolley. "Anyone fancy some tea or biscuits?" She looked across the room at everyone of the newly formed cabinet members and lastly she glanced at Gene, who seemingly appeared to feel reasonably discreet and silently thankful towards her for the momentary distraction.

"Pink Wafers and Garibaldis cheers" He replied, graciously smiling towards her before turning his attention back to the important get-together meeting of his cabinet members, mostly for the reason that they would be disappointed by his lack of concentration and leadership. He'd always knew that it was a challenge to win them over with words, he'd wondered whether most of the members might be not too happy with him because he was single and popular and that he always liked to chat to female back-benchers in Parliament.

Xxxx

"Chris I'm telling you I think its a great plan to do just before Christmas, go backpacking around Europe only for two weeks, nice hotel I wouldn't mind the ones in Sweden they have does saunas in there. Plus we might get to meet sexy blond birds there, knowing me I think I'd probably wreck our chances with them, by staring at their breasts, I've got the mind of an mischievous Adult film Star." Ray desperately tried his best to persuade his younger friend.

"Ray I'd love to go with yer but I'm still filming for my part in this new film, tomorrow they've asked me to strip off and stand in for one of the actors" Although he didn't mind this wonderful idea, he couldn't help thinking of his imperative film part in the British movie he was still involved with.

"Since when did you become Mr Popular and grab two extra roles" Ray curiously asked, frowning and acting quite baffled by Chris' sudden unexpected rise to stardom.

"Well one of the other actors pulled out because he's unwell and they've asked me instead to stand in, one of the producers said I had the same looks as Nobby Stiles when he played for England in 66" Chris said, informing him, the inspiring background and body double actor.

"Blimey, suppose I'll have to travel on my own then" Ray sighed, feeling he'd have to backtrack on some cities he planned on visiting with his friend.

"Oh don't react too badly, you can always still contact me by Skype every night, if you end up pulling a bird introduce me to her but don't be too pissed off your head, cos I might just assume you've picked up the Dutch or French language quickly" Chris tried to encourage Ray and reminding him of his drunken antics he liked to get up to.

"I'm thinking its me who's really been in need a long break away, have some fun abroad and bring back some cool presents for loved ones at Christmas" Ray surprisingly confessed, however he did feel he was right in saying this. He looked around their local afternoon drinking place called the Railway Arms, as he did so he noticed the barman Nelson calling him over. He followed towards the bar, reasonably because he was interested to hear what he had to tell him, man to man and also Nelson was very smart, casual and that he always quite liked raising his customers' spirits.

"Ray you need to open your heart, lift your spirits higher than you could ever imagine. Your ideal woman is definitely out there somewhere, maybe you should try looking from today" Nelson crossed his arms together as he stood away from the counter, he saw something quite special about Ray, the fact that he could still chat up any woman he could, even if he thought he was making himself a laughing stock, what Ray needed was a push in the right direction and needed a word in his ear, that his chat up lines weren't so bad as he thinks.

"Eh today, bloody hell, If I had a time machine or travel technology device I would be out there now, getting pissed to my eyeballs in every pub and afterward being unable to balance on my two feet as I'm noising at some bird's lovely puppies" Ray said, feeling that Nelson's advice was all too wrong for him.

"Ray you're a funnyman but all I'm saying is you need to take that next step in your personal life because its near Christmas and you shouldn't be alone" Nelson cornered his elbow on the pint pusher at the bar, he reasoned with Ray's instant thoughts but presumed he still should do what he feels is right in life.

"Well I'll be having Christmas with Chris and his family" Ray answered instantly without taking time to take in the question.

"I see Chris is already smitten with a woman, the smile on his face is definitely a telling sign" Nelson muttered softly, also nodding towards where Chris was currently seated, watching on.

"How do you know that? all he told me was his phone needed charging up because it had a low battery" Ray struggled to understand, as he briefly looked back at him as well and then back at Nelson, more inquiringly wondering how he knew everything.

"Not from what I seen, I saw him texting a woman's mobile number at the bar earlier, he appeared to be very cheery " Nelson smiled effectively "He must really like this Sharon, I think both of you are going to have quite an interesting Christmas with possible new girlfriends, luck comes to the both of you" Nelson smiled knowingly he wasn't willing to answer why he knew.

"Oh don't suppose you have a magic crystal ball that predicts everyone's future under that table cloth of yours do yer" Ray soon began to see what the popular barman actually meant and also soon saw an impressive funnier side to their enjoyable conversation.

xxxx

Geoffrey Bevan- Derek's longtime manager soon wished he hadn't been kept waiting for over an hour, everytime they went to a recording/studio session beforehand the newly solo artist always arrived late and smelling of strong Paco Rabanne.

"Derek, its Geoff where the hell are yer, I've been waiting outside my car for yer for the past 45 minutes, hope you didn't meet up with your old band members, knowing you lot,I keep figuring that you'll always be able to outclass the young upcoming music stars nowadays" He switched off his phone. All the time he couldn't help worrying, that the new Christmas record would be a disaster ready to happen, in the next few days, Derek was required to record a a music video and also booked in for a CD signing in HMV in Oxford Street.

Geoff was all but ready to leave the street where Derek lived, his untested patience was now unraveling , as he drove off, his Audi was drawn to a halt. "Thinking of a doing a runner in your car eh" Derek looked as rough as hell, unshaven, clothes scraggly, luckily his hair had been combed perfectly.

"You kept me waiting, the years have gone too quickly I mean 5 years of being your friend and manager, I'm thinking it is being getting on my nerves these days" Geoff sighed sadly, as he opened the door to allow Derek get in.

"Not growing bored of me of being my manager are you" Derek asked, seemingly wondering about whether he'd pissed him off over some thing in the past.

"You know what sometimes you can be a right big pain in the arse but also you can leave everyone of us at the recording studio in tears of laughter" Geoff mumbled, his eyes looking elsewhere, he knew he was right about this.

"Bullshit well actually not bullshit, think you're definitely right there. I can be a bastard of a nuisance at times" Derek joked comically, he glanced at Geoff who was now searching through his backpack for written song lyrics for Derek to sing in the studio "Leave them bloody lyrics alone will you, you daft bastard , well come on them, fire up the good old Audi into action, we could be there in record time" he tapped his hand on the side of the passenger seat, looking more buoyant and optimistic. Geoff rolled his eyes sarcastically as he threw his bag to one side and concentrated on driving, within minutes they were on their way to Central London.

xxxx

Chris reacted surprisingly well at Ray's update on where he planned to travel around for two weeks, "You wanna travel to Belgium, thought you had your heart set on traveling around Sweden" he frowned inquisitively as he drank his pint at the far corner table inside the pub.

"Well Nelson changed my mind, he said there were some magnificent bars and nightclubs, especially in Brussels, I thought why not, best to check the bars out" Ray said, he felt convinced on seeing the European city for himself.

"Yeah but still why Belgium?" Chris asked, repeating himself once again.

"Why you interested for, not texting your secret girlfriend at the moment are you?" Ray proceeded to teasing the hell out of him for his own amusement.

"Oh she's a woman I met on the set of the film, Ray she's really sweet, cute and has a wonderful sense of humour, you know I think its like I've finally met me match in her. Before we finished just before lunchtime she wrote her mobile number down for me and I did the same for her, now we can't stop texting one another, its brilliantly addictive" Chris muttered feeling, quite content and grinning noticeably.

"She's serious placed a well deserving permanent grin on your face hasn't she mate, seeing her again tomorrow or next week?" Ray asked curiously.

"Yeah she's been asked to strip off in the same scene too" Chris told Ray, who looked rather stunned and amused after he'd been told.

"Whatever you do, don't be thinking that she's got nice boobs straightaway, you might end getting a slap across the face from her and an disgruntled look from the director" He told Chris of the things he shouldn't do, hoping he would take the good guidance very well.

End of Chapter

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