Chapter Three – Talks about Christmas

Christmas was fast approaching, and Holly's family loved the season while there were festivities all month long the Stewarts were knowing for filling their house to the brim full of family and friends and her mother would have it no other way. This year however Charlotte had been hounding Holly to invite Gail, Chyler, her parents, brother, Oli and Celery (the girls too if they were with him) Tracy, Leo, Chloe, Dov, Chris, Andy and Steve, Lisa and Rachel as always. As much as she loved the idea of spending the day with her friends who were quickly becoming family she was some what nervous to mention it to Gail maybe because it was their first Christmas together and maybe because if Gail said yes then she really wanted her to meet her parents before Christmas day so that there was no awkwardness between them, the fact that Holly also suffered seasonal depression wasn't helping her mood at all.

Holly was sitting on the couch reading one of her nerd magazine things as Gail called them, that she often wrote for, well half reading half thinking, when Gail came down the stairs from the spare bedroom with Chyler on her hip. Startling slightly when she felt Gail run her fingers through her long black locks she tilted her head back to look at her, smiling when she leaned down to give her an upside-down kiss.

"You want to come to the park with us baby, I going to take her once last time because there has been reports of the snow starting by the middle of the week" Spoke Gail, running her thumb over Holly's cheek. She had noticed Holly's depression had started rearing its head since the beginning of Autumn but now at the end of November it seemed worse.
"Um yeah sure, I'll come" Agreed Holly with a little smile.

Setting her magazine on the coffee table, she got up off, of the couch and went through to the hall with them. Pulling on her boots, hat, scarf, and jackets she took over getting Chyler into the last of her winter gear and wrapped up in her stroller. No point taking the car when the could walk around the block to the park.

Although Gail had used the excuse at it was due to Snow in the next couple of days, so they should go one last time before the winter she had also just wanted to get Holly out into the sun because she knew it would help her feel a little better.

The walk to the park didn't take them long and Chyler was happy enough to sit in her stroller and sing to herself on the short journey. Soon enough they were walking into the park that was fenced by small colourful fences. Smiling at the only two other couples there with their children they parked the stroller near the sand box one of Chyler's favourites and got her out sitting on the edge while she sat in the middle happily playing as best as she could in her winter gear. Holly on the other hand had completely zoned out and never heard a thing of what Gail was saying.

"Holly, are you okay baby?" Asked Gail gently
"Hm yeah. I spoke with mum this morning she was wondering if you, Chyler, your parents, Steve, Tracey, Leo, Oli, Celery, the girls if they are with him, Dov, Chloe, Andy and Sam wanted to spend Christmas day with us and if you wanted to have Dinner with them tonight. You don't have to do any of it of course. It just that Christmas day with us is always big and mom prefers the more the merrier and well tonight was so that they could meet you be…..." Holly rambled getting cut off by Gail's lips on hers.
"I'd love too Holly, I'd love to have dinner with them tonight to meet them and I I'd love to come for Christmas day. I'll ask the rest tomorrow at work and I will calm mom and dad on the off chance that they accept. But I was actually talking about um that you um"
"That I've been a snappy and depressed lately" Spoke Holly looking up at her.
"No baby, I wouldn't say that as such"
"It's okay honey, I have been and I'm sorry I really don't mean to be. I um went to my doctor the other day and she has started me back on my tablets so hopefully they should take effect soon" Spoke Holly looking down.
"Hey baby you have nothing to apologise for. I know that you can't help it and I know that you don't mean to be, but I do wish you would have come talk to me about it though and I'm glad the doctor got you back on them just remember you can always tell me when you aren't feeling yourself okay?"

Nodding Holly smiled a relieved smile and gave her a tight hug before they took Chyler to go and have a shot on the swings each taking turns to push the giggling little girl. They didn't stay much longer than that because it was too cold and since they were now going to the Stewarts house for Dinner they were going to have to go home and get ready, mainly making sure Chyler had everything they would need for her while they were there, like extra clothes, diapers, bibs, her baby food, a bottle and pyjama just it case it got close to her bedtime and her favourite pink bunny rabbit that wore baby blue overalls knowing as hoppy and her comfort blanket known as sookie .

Gail felt nervous about meeting Holly's parents until walking up the drive way of the rather large house or as she kept saying a freaking mansion. All she could think about was that parents don't usually like her and that included her own for a while, but even If they didn't like her they'd be okay right? Shaking her head ever so slightly to rid herself of her thoughts she reached for Holly's hand being sure to keep her other on the stroller tightly and watched as her girl struggled to open the door without letting go of her hand. She didn't even press the door bell before walking into her parent's house, if that was her she would get a lecture about manners for doing that and that's with her relationship with her parents improving.

Before she had time to think about anything else Holly was gently calling her name from just inside the house and urging her inside out of the cold. Smiling sheepishly at her she got the pram in then herself being sure to close the door behind her and looked around, it really was a mansion that she lived it, not that she could say much because her parents had a pretty big house too and a cabin out of town.

Finally, they had their jackets handing up and Gail was unbuckling Chyler from her stroller and taking her out of her jackets and blanket she had for the car. Holly smiled softly watching her and gently took the diaper bag from her hand as she leaned forward pressing a kiss to her lips.

"Relax honey, the mere fact that I love you gives you a head up already and they will just adore Chyler" Explained Holly
"Holly, Snooks, Is that you?" Asked Charlotte coming into the hall just as Gail was about to say something back to Holly. "Ahh you dear must be Gail and this beautiful girl must be Chlyer"
"Um yeah Hi Mrs Stewart it's nice to meet you"
"It's Charlotte Dear, Now my daughter here has told me all about you and this little girl, so we are very glad to meet you, You're not a vegetarian are you because I got us stake for dinner….and"
"Mom give Gail some tome to speak before asking her more than one question and where is Daddy?" Grinned Holly
"Sorry Gail Dear I never meant to bombard you with questions. Ahh he's in the living room with Tommy, why don't we all go through"
"It's okay Charlotte I eat meet"

Holly grinned at the two and this time it was her who took Gail's hand and lead them through to the family room, however as soon as she saw her dad her hand was dropped, and Holly was in his arms before they all sat down together.

Thankfully Gail really hit it off with her parents despite her slightly snarky personality and Chyler had taken a liken to them too. Before they knew it they were all sat around the table with their dinner of steak, potatoes, gravy and veg with a side of salad and Charlotte had even made something different for Chyler to eat, that was followed by black forest cheesecake.

After wards Holly and her dad had sent everyone else through to the family room while the did the washing up. Tommy had offered but Alfred had said they were more than capable of doing it. She had just put away the last dish and Alfred had just dried his hand when he had asked her to take a seat at the table with him while they waited for the water for the tea and coffee to heat up.

"How are you feeling Snooks?" Asked Alfred softly.
"I'm fine Daddy, why?"
"No reason I just wanted to make sure with everything that you were….um fine?"
"You mean because of my depression? I'm okay not the best a little bitchy and that but I'm back on my tablets so they'll help so does having Gail and Chyler around"
"You know I really hate how this weather and that gets to you and that you have what they like to call seasonal depression because Christmas is your favourite time of year but I'm glad you've been talking to Gail about it, I can tell by the way Gail looks at you and kept checking on you that she really loves you, s"
"I know you do Daddy, I um actually didn't talk to Gail about it today because she called me on it but I promised to go to her next time. She does Daddy and I know things have been complicated with us breaking up and then getting back together but I really do love her"
"Good I'm glad you found someone like her. Now let's go make the tea and coffee and go join them before they tell any more embarrassing storied about you"

Smiling Holly kissed her Dad's cheek and they made the hot drinks quickly before joining them back in the living room where the other three were sitting talking and laughing while Chyler played with her toys on the floor until Holly sat next to her Mommy then she moved to Holly's knee and sat happily playing with her necklace and the toy Gail picked up for her.

So maybe meeting the parents weren't bad after all because Holly's ones seemed nice and she found herself liking their company, which for Gail was unusual.

A/N Hey Guys thank you all so much for the Kudos. I hope you all had a lovely hogmany/new year. Someone mentioned a beta but I don't have one sorry. I get the chapters wrote in between working full time and studying,