A/N Sorry for the really slow update, Christmas and revision and then I was ill and yeah this is a really late update :L So it's a bit late for a christmas themed chapter now so I've gone for New Year instead x

Jasmine's P.O.V

It was fair to say Christmas hadn't gone as I'd expected. I'd hoped my first Christmas back at home, back as Jasmine - would have been a happy occasion surrounded by family, friends and hopefully Bart too, forgetting all the drama of the past and just having fun.

Instead, Riley and Mitzeee had been "held up" in France whatever that meant, Auntie Trish was away on some singles holiday, Bart was celebrating Christmas at his cousin's house in Dublin with the rest of the McQueen's and Dad was staying out in America. Seth and I had spent the holidays lounged on the sofa with beer cans and cheesy Christmas films Mum always used to make us watch.

"What's for breakfast?" My twin brother asked me sleepily as he made his way into the living room looking like hell.

"Whatever you feel like making", I replied from the sofa.

I got a few grunts as a reply as he collapsed onto the sofa next to me, conveniently only hungry when others were available to make the food.

"Good morning to you too", I laughed.

"Yeah", he mumbled.

"Well some-one's in a good mood", I smiled. Nothing was going to ruin my sunny mood this morning – Bart was due home today and I couldn't wait to spend New Year's with him.

"You heard anything from Riley or Mitzeee today?" Seth asked, ignoring my dig.

"Not yet", I replied. "But it is only ten. They're probably both still asleep".

"I'd rather they were on a plane. It's bad enough they've missed Christmas without New Year too".

"Yeah – it was weird without them", I agreed.

"You managed last year", he snapped. "When you buggered off and left us all to go and live with him". He said the word him with a venomous tone in his voice, the hatred for our father evident.

"Seth". I couldn't think of a response other than his name. His words had cut like knives. "That's not fair".

"Isn't it?"

"I came back didn't I?"

He didn't say anything for a few moments, then got up and walked through to the kitchen. I was just about to follow him and give him a few home truths when there was a knock on the door, interrupting what otherwise could well have been the start of world war three.

"Hey", Bart smiled as I answered the door. God his smile. Until I saw him right in front of me again, I hadn't realised just how much I'd missed him. "Well can I come in", he laughed, "or are you just going to stare at me until 2013?"

I shook my head, laughing, as I moved to the side to let him in.

"Good Christmas?" He asked.

"Nah not really, hoping for a better New Year's though", I replied.

"Why what happened? Did it all kick off?"

"There weren't enough people here for it to kick off. Riley and Mitzeee are still in France".

"You serious? How come?"

"They just said they got held up", I shrugged.

"Yeah but over Christmas?"

"Like I said, they got held up", I repeated quickly, eager to change the subject. "What about yours?"

"It was good", he replied. "Eventful".

"Christmas with the McQueen's? I wouldn't expect anything less", I teased.

"Oi watch what you're saying", he laughed. "Anyway, I forgot to give you your present before I left".

"Forgot to give me or forgot to buy?"

"Just take the present" he smiled, handing me a small parcel wrapped in silver holographic paper. I unwrapped it carefully, unusual for me but something told me this wasn't one to just rip open. As I peeled off a strand of sellotape I glanced up at Bart, he was watching intently, his face full of anticipation. I returned my gaze to the small navy box that had been revealed and slowly opened it, being cautious not to drop it – I could be really clumsy at times. Inside was the most beautiful ring I'd ever seen. A simple gold band with one huge diamond in the middle, projecting a rainbow of light under the living room chandelier. I could do nothing for a few moments than just stare speechless at it's beauty - that a person like me could own something like this, and most of all that Bart had been the one to give it to me.

"Is this…" I couldn't even find the words to finish the sentence – I was too overwhelmed with emotion.

"We're seventeen", he told me. "Still at sixth form. I know we don't need to rush things – we've got the rest of our lives ahead of us. But I just want you to know, I want to spend it all with you". He paused, his eyes full of regret. "I don't want to be all talk. Not like before. The amount of times I told you how I felt and then-" he broke off mid-sentence. Typical. "And then ditched you to go back to Sinead", he continued, finishing off a hard sentence for a change. "Not just Sinead. Ruby before her. Or even my mates at school, because I was too much of a fucking coward, scared of what people would think. I wanted you to have some proof that I'm serious".

I could feel myself grinning really cheesily as I slipped the eternity ring onto my index finger.

"I did a lot of thinking in Dublin", he continued. "And I'm so, so sorry. For everything".

"Don't be". I shook my head, smiling, as I pulled him in for a kiss.

"Ugh". Seth made a noise of disgust as he walked in on us. "Don't make me throw up my breakfast".

"Delightful", I replied, pulling away slightly from Bart. "Except for that to happen you would have actually had to bothered making it this morning".

"Oh my God – you're getting married?" Seth's shocked face as he clocked the beauty on my finger was priceless.

"One day", Bart answered, pulling me into an embrace. "But it's an eternity ring".

"Good job Dad's on the other side of the atlantic", Seth scoffed, mistakingly thinking he was cool, "cause he's going to flip when he hears you want to be stuck with Bart McQueen for the rest of your life".

"When he hears what?" Mitzeee asked as she entered the room carrying no suitcases but at least a dozen shopping bags. "You better not be pregnant Jasmine Costello", she warned but she was laughing.

"Mitz", I smiled, getting up to hug her. Even as Jason, when it came to missing family I'd always acted like a little girl.

"Hey guys". Riley followed Mitzeee into the living room where we were all now congregated, five suitcases in tow – four of them hot pink. "Merry Christmas".

"A bit late for that isn't it?" Seth laughed. I could tell he was secretly too pleased to have them back to really be annoyed – usually two weeks away from them would have been a breath of fresh air but over Christmas it really had been strange without them. Almost as strange as last Christmas, with just me and Dad in California – with sun on Christmas day – and me questioning my gender once more.

"Yeah sorry about that". Riley's apology was casual, as if he'd missed footie in the park not the biggest day of the year. "We had stuff to sort out".

"And why couldn't you have sorted it out at home?" I asked.

"We just needed some space to get things straight", Mitzeee replied hurriedly.

"Anyway, onto more important things – why have you got a ring around your finger?" Riley shot Bart a look of death. He reminded me of Dad way too much sometimes.

"Yeah you still haven't answered my question Jas", Mitzeee added.

"What question?" I looked to Bart for help but he looked just as confused as I was.

"Are you knocked up or not?" Mitzeee paused, as if thinking about something serious. "I know you're seventeen now but do you think MTV would make an exception for the daughter of Carl Costello?"

"Jas". Riley was looking increasingly concerned. "Answer the question".

I found the worry on his face amusing so decided to leave it a little longer before answering. Apparently I left it a little too long because Riley was now right in Bart's face, yelling at him.

"Riley relax – I'm not pregnant!" I yelled.

"Well there goes the MTV deal", Mitzeee sighed. "I mean, that's good of course", she added quickly.

"It's just an eternity ring", I informed them, growing tired of having to correct people.

"Right. Now can we finally sit down and relax?" Mitzeee asked then flopped down on the sofa before receiving a response.

"Relax", Riley repeated, collapsing next to her. I noticed they seemed to be sitting a bit too close. "That sounds good". As he said the last bit he stretched his arm around her, pulling her closer as she snuggled in. Seth and I shared a worried look. That was the kind of behaviour expected from Bart and I – a couple. Not cousins.

"What the bloody hell is going on?"

Riley's relaxation was interrupted by the shrill angry voice of Mercedes McQueen, stood in the doorway with Bobby, a look of fury on her face as she asked the question on every-one's minds.

As Bart and I watched the New Year's Eve fireworks go off at midnight, downstairs was still also pretty explosive. I couldn't make out individual words but from what I could I could tell that Mercedes was not happy.

"Bart, you know Riley and Mitzeee earlier? Did they seem a bit … weird to you?"

"Your family are always weird", he replied. "Both of our's are".

"I meant to each other", I laughed. "Almost like they were together".

He appeared to think about what I'd just said for a few moments.

"I don't know", he replied finally. "A bit".

"But they're cousins. They're family".

"Well it's still not as screwed up as the McQueen's", he smiled. "Theresa's Jacqui and Mercedes' half-sister and cousin".

"True", I smiled, feeling only slightly comforted.

"Anyway, forget them", he told me, turning me to face him. "I haven't said happy new year yet".

"Yeah you have".

"Not properly".

Before I knew it he was kissing me, softly and gently and it was almost like the first time all over again. Not the first time when I pushed him off – properly, at his house, when we skived off school for the afternoon. Inevitably we had to break apart at some point but as we did so I knew we both would have liked it to have lasted as long as my new ring.

"Happy new year", he grinned.

"Happy new year", I repeated, smiling back at him as I thought back to New Year 2011 when we'd also spent it in my bedroom, and how this time I knew for certain that the year ahead would be a good one, and there was no doubt that I'd be spending it all with Bart McQueen.

All the noise and commotion from downstairs stopped abruptly. Bart and I shared the same confused expression as we both instinctively headed for the bedroom door to go downstairs and see what was going on.

"You bastard", I heard Mercedes whisper from the stairs, terror in her voice. On hearing her Bart legged it down the stairs and into the living room where he joined them in their stunned silence. Confused as hell, I rushed down after him.

As soon as I entered the room my feet seemed to stick to the floor, unable to move. Time seemed to stand still.

"Mercedes", my grandfather snarled sinisterly. "Happy new year to you too".