A/N: A little family scene, this one. I hope you'll enjoy it. I can't believe I've nearly written 20 of these! I've got a small favour to ask - this time when you review can you tell me your favourite band or singer please. I need one for a future chapter of this story and can't think of a good one to use. Thanks so much to those of you have reviewed so far - you are all amazing!

Surprise!

Emily bustled past the shoppers, carrying an ample amount of bags filled to the brim with the weeks food shopping. In each hand she had four carrier bags and their weight was luckily evenly balanced, otherwise she feared she would have fallen over as she made her way out to the car.

But despite her apparent good luck, Emily wasn't happy. Matthew had said he would go shopping with her at the weekend to get enough food for the kids packed lunches and the week's dinners. But there she was alone. When she'd mentioned their need for food that morning, he'd insisted she should go alone and that she needed to be more independent.

Clearly her husband was just too lazy to contemplate going out shopping in the January snow season. London was chilly that morning, but it was nothing Emily and her Victorian upbringing couldn't handle. After all she'd survived many snow filled winters in little more than one of her velveteen dresses. They were thick but that had never stopped the breeze travelling underneath her skirt and up her stocking covered legs.

Still, she eventually managed to cross the perilous car park, dodging patches of ice, and made it to the car in one piece. It may have taken longer in the boots Jess had bought her at Christmas, but she was getting better at walking in such ridiculously heeled shoes every day.

It wasn't long before the bags were in the boot, and she was peeling off her gloves to be able to grip the steering wheel. Before she knew it, Emily was back at the house.

She glanced up at the whitewashed front, with the ivy creeping up towards her and Matt's bedroom window, and smiled. It was truly beautiful. Outside the door, propped alongside the low wall, were her two children's bikes. The garden was covered in a thick; but fine mist of snow, although that was no longer pristine and untouched. Instead, footprints had been crunched into the snow and there were even deep holes from snow angels. Beside the apple tree sat a broad snow man, complete with a carrot for a nose and a top-hat and scarf. All in all, it just looked like home.

Emily grabbed the bags from the car and set off down the path, which Matt had managed to keep clear of snow by placing grit down it. She beeped the car, locking the doors and somehow, despite her hands being full, managed to open the front door.

"Surprise!" came a loud shout from what sounded like multiple people.

Emily gasped and jumped in fright, nearly dropping all the bags. She lowered them to the ground just in time to catch her two children, nine year old Robert and six year old Lily, as they came running down the hall towards her, arms already outstretched to hug her tightly.

Matt followed at a more leisurely pace and kissed her cheek. Behind him, crowded in the living room doorway, stood all their friends.

"You did all this?" she asked in shock.

Matt nodded. "Although, Lily here nearly gave the game away," he added, looking down at his daughter. "I'm still surprised she managed to keep it all a secret in the end."

Lily giggled and tightened her arms around Emily's waist.

"Thank you," Emily smiled, running a hand through both Lily and Robert's hair.

Matt looped his hands through the bag handles and led the way back into the living room to drop the shopping on the dining room table.

"Does this mean we can finally start eating the crisps?" Robert called to his dad, following him and barging rudely through the guests.

Emily rolled her eyes and unzipped her coat, hanging it on the peg beside the rest of her family's. Next her boots came off and Lily took them to put them on the rack in the cupboard under the stairs. Job done, she took Emily's hand and towed her into the living room to join the party.

Whilst Matt busied himself in the dining room, setting out some more food, Emily made the rounds and thanked everyone for turning up.

"Oh, don't worry about it," Abby said, already holding a glass of wine. "It was no trouble at all, except trying to keep Connor from blurting out about all this – that was hard."

Connor elbowed his wife lightly, and swept their youngest son up into his arms, tickling him and laughing.

Jess and Becker soon joined them, leaving the other soldiers they were talking to to amuse themselves. It was only Lester who didn't come to talk with his staff members and left ten minutes after Emily had returned home. Though there was a rather large gift from him sat on the coffee table ready for Emily to open. She wondered what it could be, but decided to wait to open her presents till after everyone had gone.

She was still talking to everyone thirty minutes later when Matt walked up behind her and slung his arms about her waist, leaning his chin on her shoulder. Her hand came up to hold the back of his head and she turned her face and kissed him.

"Yuck!" Robert exclaimed from where he sat, hogging the sofa.

Matt smirked and yelled back, "You'll understand when you're older, mate."

"Oh, believe me, it'll be worse then," Connor remarked. "Nick's twelve and he's already lusting after fifteen year old girls. All he thinks about it women!"

"And you're telling me you weren't the same at his age?" Becker asked, eyebrows raised like normal.

Connor shrugged. "There's still only one girl for me."

Jess awed at them as Abby and Connor kissed, holding Sam, their three year old son, between them. Becker meanwhile, rolled his eyes.

"Don't be an emotional retard," Jess berated, one hand on his hips.

"Sorry," Becker replied, taking her hand and squeezing it as he placed a light kiss on her cheek.

It may have taken him almost fifteen years, but he'd come a long way since he was the stoic soldier who never talked about his feelings.

"Dad," groaned his own son, Mark.

Jess grinned evilly, and called, "Come here, Mark."

Mark looked up, saw the glint in his mother's eyes and took off running, diving between Jess' legs and swerving past all the other guests. Jess chased after him, puckering her lips and playing with her son.

"Well that was a surprise," Matt muttered in Emily's ear.

Emily nodded. "But I think I could grow to like surprises, don't you?"

A/N: So I'd love to know what you thought about this chapter and please, please, please tell me your favourite band or singer!