"I can't believe you." Anger radiates through her as Ruth slams the cupboard shut. Turning, she glares at her soon-to-be ex-lover and slams the thick, glass platter onto the counter.

"I'm sorry," Harry says, cringing as he watches his mother's serving dish shudder. "But could you refrain from breaking my dishes?"

"Sorry." Moving to the oven, she checks the roasts doneness. Temperature still a few degrees to low, she closes the door. "How could you?"

"You agreed to marry me." Taking a step towards her, he stops and raises his hand as she turns with a knife.

"That doesn't give you the right to have my entire house packed and moved to your house in the 24-hour period we're busy. There are things I don't want others finding; things that are private." She's vague in what she's talking about as she waves the knife back and forth.

"Can you put the knife down?" He asks, moving towards her as she does just that. "Thank you." Arms wrapping around her waist, he pulls her stiff body towards his. "Your...personal friend from inside the nightstand is still there. I had the discrete service I utilized tape the drawers shut before moving anything."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Blushing, she relents some and leans against him, sighing as his hand slips under her shirt to rub soothing circles on her back. "Harry, I agreed to marry you, yes, but that doesn't mean I want you making all the decisions in my life. Our marriage won't last long if you keep doing that."

"5 nights out of 7 during a week you're at my house and the other 2, we spend at yours. With our getting married, it would make sense that we would be moving in together and as my house is larger..."

"I love my house Harry. It took me months to find the perfect one when I first moved to London. I'd hoped that we could discuss things like this before you run headfirst over what I want."

"I'm sorry." he whispers, leaning forward to kiss her hair softly. "We can live in yours. I just thought you'd like your own things when your here; that you'd want Fidget and Sigmund to be here with us instead of on their own."

"I do." Sighing, she lifts her head to look at him. "And we can live here. But Harry, you need to ask me these things first. Not just assume things will be going your way. Our relationship won't survive if you don't, and I for one am looking for this to last the rest of my life."

"So am I." Hand lifting to the back of her head, he cradles her softly as he presses his mouth against hers. With a sigh, he lets her go and steps back. "They'll be here soon."

"I love you." A squeeze of his hand, she steps back to the counter to finish with the vegetables.

"I love you too." Stepping away, Harry makes his way to the fridge to pull the alcohol-free wine from where it was chilling. "I can't see any good coming out of this."

"Hmm. Why did you agree to it then?" Chopping carefully, she looks at him once before focusing her eyes on the parsnip again.

"Jane pushed it. Said she already told him she had plans and that he should come here for dinner instead."

"And he agreed?" Lifting a pan, she sweeps the vegetables into it. Setting it on the stove, she turns back to him.

"Apparently. Jane just called and said to expect him at 4."

"Do you think you can talk any sense into him?"

"Honestly? No. Her hasn't listened to me since he was 8 years old and I told him he couldn't set his sister on fire. But I'm willing to try. I want what's best for him."

"I know you do, but maybe his plan has merit." Crossing to him, she takes the bottle he's still holding and sets it on the table.

"Ruth, if what he's told Jane is true, my son is embarking on a fools quest."

"Harry..."

"No, Ruth. Nothing you can say will convince me his idea of opening a clothing store in a nudist colony is profitable and not wasting his savings."

AN: So originally I had thought of taking this a bit more realistic and plot worthy, but then I realized this is supposed to be a light-hearted Christmas fic and so I went for silly instead. I see one or two more chapters before this is finished and I start 'A Family for Christmas'. Hopefully you've enjoyed this offering for the Advent Calendar and if you've a moment, please leave a review.