Chapter 12: Christmas part 2.

Kelly's heart stopped, she couldn't believe it. She had hoped that some day this would happen, she just hadn't expected it to happen so soon. She looked down to him, her eyes beginning to water. She could tell he was a nervous wreck. She stared at him for a moment, she truly loved him, infact, more accurately, he was the love fo her life.

"Baby, i would love to marry you" she said sweetly watching the huge grin that was covering his face.

He took the ring from it's perch in the box and slid it onto her long slender finger admiring it as he did so. Peter stood up and used his thumb to wipe away the tear that now trickled slowly down her cheek. He held her face in his hands and kissed her soft lips with all the love in the world. When he pulled away she smiled at him through her eyes.

"I love you so much" he whispered with their noses touching.

"Hmm, i love you more" she replied.

He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her neck before whispering into her ear "that's not possible".

They ended their embrace a few minutes later making a toast to their future together. They opened the rest of their presents from one another and laughed happily together.

"My goodness" Kelly said rising to her feet "look at the time, the kids will be here soon."

"So?" Peter said trying to prevent her moving.

"So i need to start the cooking or nobody will be eating Christmas dinner!"

Breaking free from his grasp she went to the kitchen and put the food in the oven and set the timer. She then made her way upstairs to shower and get dressed before Katie and Craig arrived. When she had finished she returned downstairs to find Peter still sitting on the floor staring blankly at the tree.

"Honey, are you alright?" she asked crouching down to his level and placing her hands over his knees rubbing his legs gently.

"Hmmm? Uh yeah i couldn't be better,"

she smiled at him before kissing him hard on the lips and rubbing his hair with her hands.

"You should go get showered and dressed, the kids will be here soon." She said pulling away.

"I suppose your right" Peter said as Kelly stood up and started heading to the kitchen. "You look beautiful by the way" he called after her.

Kelly was in the kitchen humming away to Chris De Burgh's "A spaceman came travelling" as he Christmas cd played on the machine behind her as she prepared the food. She wanted everything to be perfect. Enjoying the sound of the music Kelly didn't hear Peter's footsteps as he entered the room and didn't notice his presence until he rubbed her shoulders.

"Hey, you smell nice." She said admiring his aftershave scent.

"Yeah? You have good taste" he was now right behind her resting his head on her shoulders and his arms were firmly wrapped round her waist as he rubbed her stomach.

He was surprised when she shrugged him off and walked away over to the sink. Normally she would have rested in his embrace regardless.

"What was that for?" He asked her

"What?"

"You pushed me away. Are you ok?" he was a bit baffled

"Awww honey, don't be ridiculous, i wasn't pushing you away, i just need to wash these and then i need to set the table and then i have to sort them and prepare the vegetables and then..."

He cut her off "Is that what's wrong? Are you mad I'm not helping?" He tried to keep his voice calm.

"No. not at all. I'm sorry . I just..." she trailed off and walked over to him stroking his chest.

"What?"

"I need to make this perfect. You're kids and i have been doing really well and getting along and this is Christmas and their first with you away from them and i just don't want to make any mistakes! Especially if we are going to get married.! She eventually stopped for breath.

"Aww honey, the kids will love it no matter what you make". He tried to comfort her.

She smiled and allowed him to cuddle her.

"What about the engagement?"

"They are fine about it! Actually more like excited. I told them i was gonna ask you once the divorce came through."

Kelly said nothing. She was happy to just stand in his embrace, stroking up and down his back with her fingers and tickling him slightly.

"So are you ok?" He asked eventually.

"Happier than ever." She was looking into his eyes with her arms wrapped firmly round his neck.

"Why's that?" he grinned.

"Because I'm your..." She paused fo ra moment not believing she was about to say the next word, "fiancé" she finished.

He kissed her deeply on hearing that word "Hmm, bet i could make you happier." He said suggestively winking at her.

"I bet you could" she teased "but not now because I'm cooking and the kids are almost here."

He was disappointed.

"Is that you rejecting me again?" He laughed

"Not rejecting (kiss) postponing".

"Until when?" he sounded desperate.

"I don't know!" She was playing with him.

"Aww baby, please don't tease, i want you so bad right now."

Kelly laughed at the though. All the power was in her hands. Secretly she was desperate for him right there and then as well but she knew the timing was wrong.

"well..." she began after a moment "maybe, i was thinking we could celebrate our engagement alone together, say tonight."

"Hmmm, what time?" He was acting and she knew it.

Playing along she used Kirsten's line as she face him "If you're not upstairs by ten o'clock I'm gonna start without you." She changed it slightly to fit the situation.

They both just laughed as the front door swung open.

"Merry Christmas daddy!" Katie yelled running towards Peter.

"Oh merry Christmas sweetheart!"

He turned to hug Craig and then watched happily as both kids hugged Kelly just like they had him.

"Can i see your ring?" Katie asked as they sat at the table. "Do you like it?"

"Yea i love it!" Kelly beamed as she smiled at Peter.

Over dinner they chatted about many things, mainly the kids and what they got for Christmas. Peter took Kelly 's hand under the table and placed it on his leg whilst he played with the platinum engagement ring that sat in her finger. She gripped his hand every now and then to let him know how happy she was.

"wow that food was great" Craig spoke as he finished "Best Christmas meal I've ever had."

"Hey!" Peter jumped in "I used to cook you Christmas dinner all the time."

"Yeah my point exactly!" Every body laughed and Craig began o clear the dishes.

"Oh that's ok sweetie, just leave them I'll clear them away in the morning" Kelly said.

"Are you sure?"

"yea but thanks. Come on lets all go and watch a movie together" She suggested.

The kids sat on one couch as Kelly and Peter lay tangled together on the other one. They were watching "Miracle on 34th street", the best Christmas movie ever. Although they were all sitting silent they were loving each other's company. It wasn't very late when the movie finished and not too long afterwards They heard the doorbell.

"Melinda!" Peter said as opened the door becoming shocked.

"Hey everyone, merry Christmas" Melinda said happily inviting herself in.

"Eh yeah. Merry Christmas. What are you doing here?" Kelly asked as she lifted her left hand to rub her eye.

"I um, came to..." she stopped "Oh My God! Did you guys get engaged?" she asked observing the diamond on Kelly's finger.

"Actually yes." peter walked over to Kelly and she wrapped her arms around his waist. "This morning"

"Ahhh congratulations!" she grabbed them both into a gigantic hug.

"Thanks" Kelly smiled breaking free "So what are you doing here?"

"Oh, well we are having a small last minute Christmas party, all the others have come and we couldn't get you on the phone so i came to invite you in person."

"YAY! Please can we go dad?" Katie begged.

"well thanks for the invitation but i don't think so, I'm really tired" Peter said and Kelly knew why.

"Awww dad come on." Craig also wanted to go.

"Sorry guys but kel and i are not going." Peter was adamant.

"Aww Peter come on, you're so boring" Melinda joked, "The kids could come if they want, I'll take them just now and they can stay over and I'll get them back to you in the morning."

Peter was thinking about it. His kids were so desperate to go and he was so desperate to be alone with Kelly. However he still wasn't sure. he had been about to say no when Kelly who was still gripping his waist had pinched him to stop him. He knew why: it was the perfect chance for them to be alone. Eventually to everybody else's delight Peter agreed. A matter of minutes Later he was standing at the door watching Melinda drive away with his two very excited children.

Peter headed upstairs to find Kelly calling out to her before he reached the room "Hey, where's my beautiful bride-to-be?"

"I'm here honey" She immediately called back "I'm waiting for you."

Peter smiled to himself. As he entered the bedroom he closed the door behind him and turned off the light before climbing over the bed to Kelly where he introduced his lips to her neck and began undressing her for round one of their "Celebration."