Thank you to everyone who's been reading/ reviewing. This is the last character chapter, but in a few days i'll be posting another chapter about their Christmas day opening the presents.

Maureen looked down on the slip of paper with the word 'Joanne' written on it. She knew straight away that her usual method for buying presents wouldn't work. Normally Maureen made it a habit to buy something she liked and borrow (steal) it when the person she had bought it for grew tired of it. Yet she knew Joanne would not stand for that.

That was the biggest difference between Joanne and her previous boyfriends/ girlfriends. She didn't allow Maureen to mould her into who she wanted her to be. Although it often caused arguments between them, Maureen had to admit to herself that she admired Joanne for standing up for herself. It made this relationship feel much more real, rather than a make believe one where she told the characters exactly what to do and say.

Therefore she wanted to buy a present for Joanne that she would appreciate. It was a new experience for her to be enjoying giving a present; normally she was only interested in receiving. But she knew her relationship with Joanne was so different from previous ones and meant so much to her that she wanted to buy Joanne a present that would mean a lot to her.

With that thought it mind Maureen put on her coat and set off on a walk trying to clear her thoughts. Joanne loved her job Maureen thought, slightly bitterly. Perhaps she could buy her something for that? Another of one of the to do lists she loved so much? Yet Joanne was so damned organised that everything she needed was bought weeks in advance of her using it. A few hours later and without any presents to show for it Maureen headed home.

Almost home she was rushing to see if Joanne had finished work yet and knocked straight into a woman going the other way sending her shopping bags flying.

"I'm so sorry!" Maureen exclaimed bending down to pick up the items that had fallen out of the bags.

"It's my fault really." The woman replied also bending down to retrieve all her shopping. Then Maureen noticed one of the products on the floor- a pair of stockings.

"Sexy" Maureen commented handing them back to the woman who blushed and put them quickly in one of the bags.

"My husband likes it when I wear stockings" she explained.

"I bet you look really hot in them." Maureen replied. Then she suddenly felt an arm jerking her to her feet.

"What?" She started before she noticed it was Joanne who held her arm in a painful grip.

Dragging Maureen towards the apartment Joanne hissed, "What were you doing with that girl?"

"Pookie I was helping her pick up her shopping." Maureen replied.

"And saying she'd look sexy in stockings was a lot of help I'm sure." Joanne replied sarcastically.

"I was just being friendly!" Maureen protested.

But as usual the fight didn't last for long and soon finished in some hot make-up sex.

The next morning once Joanne had left for work Maureen lay in bed thinking. The problem for her was that she couldn't see things from Joanne's point of view. She loved Joanne and didn't know how to show it more clearly. She was just being friendly and sure sometimes she liked to have abit of flirtatious fun with people, but it didn't mean anything. How could she show Joanne that she was hers for life? It wasn't as if she was going to leave her for someone else. This wasn't brief fling, this was forever. She wanted to show Joanne her commitment.

"That's it!" Maureen shouted out loud. She wanted to give Joanne her commitment. All her ideas of a material present were coming to nothing because she knew in her heart that what Joanne wanted wasn't physical.

After bolting out of bed and getting ready in record time Maureen was practically running to a cheap jewellery shop. Although most of the items were tacky she found what she was looking for: a beautiful silver ring with a tiny diamond- a symbol of their commitment to each other. After all, she made it a habit to buy presents she wanted too.

Would really appreciate reviews as I couldn't get this chapter to work.