Hello everybody! Thank you so much for continuing to read and review this story. I'm a bit swamped with work at the moment so your next update probably won't be until sometime next week when things quiet down a bit.

And as usual I don't have anything to do with Skins or own the characters but this story is inspired by true events.

Chapter 13:Christmas Eve

It was three days after Effy's appointment at the clinic, which meant that it was three days since Effy decided not to go back to her flat and has decided to stay with me, seemingly forever. She refused to move from my couch and watched TV all day while cuddled up in a blanket with a box of tissues next to her. Freddie would come to visit her every day and try to comfort her but it was no use. She told him right away about her early onset menopause and I could tell it upset him. But he seemed sure of one thing only – he loved Effy and to him that was all that mattered. Effy was never very responsive when he would come round and even though I felt bad for him, I still felt worse for Effy.

But today was Christmas Eve and I'd had enough of it – Effy had to make a decision about where her life was headed from here. She couldn't just stay in limbo on my couch for the rest of her life.

I tried to question her about what happened between her and Katie but she'd never really answer me. From what I'd deduced just by talking to Emily and comparing stories, they'd slept together at the very least, although the time of said hook up was still unknown. I had a feeling that Effy was no longer simply trying to deal with not being able to have children. She was at yet another crossroads, something that I was far too familiar with. The last time Effy was at a crossroads, I was there with her and we all know how that ended up. She couldn't go back to the place where she was partying all the time and sleeping around. It wasn't her anymore.

Now her decision seemed firmly rooted in love, the only divide being who she truly wanted to be with...who would make her the happiest.

"Effy, are you going to get dressed today?" I asked as I handed her a cup of tea. She smiled and tilted her head at me.

"Maybe," she responded just before taking a sip.

"Well, maybe after you get dressed you could figure out if you still want Freddie or if you want Katie and then, you know, sort your life out?"

Effy's eyes darted quickly up to mine, revealing her shock.

"What? No, Katie and I-"

"The truth, Eff."

She sighed and buried her face in her hands.

"She's just something that happened before I admitted to myself that I loved Freddie, okay? Nothing big, nothing to want. We work together...with Freddie! There's nothing going on between us anymore. She's just a friend."

I smirked. "Effy, I'd have believed you if you just told me she was only a friend. But now, I definitely don't believe you. I think that was the longest explanation you've ever given me."

Her face fell and she sighed again before moving to the opposite end of the couch since I was blocking the TV and she couldn't see from where she had been sitting before.

"Effy, it's Christmas Eve. We were all going to go out tonight and have a good time, remember? I know that this is difficult for you, really, I get that. But you have to remember that life goes on. If someday you decide you want to have a baby, you can. And if you decide you want to be with Katie, then so be it. You know I'll be there for you no matter what."

She continued to pretend to ignore me and watch the TV, but on some level I knew I'd gotten through to her.

It wasn't until later that evening that Effy finally decided to get off the couch, after I'd taken the turkey out of the freezer to defrost and prepared tomorrow's dessert and was now getting ready to go out with Emily and all her friends as well as all my friends.

"I think I'm going to come out with you tonight," she said in a quiet voice as she leaned against my bedroom doorframe.

"Sure, Eff, Freddie brought over some clothes for you and left them over there," I said as I pointed to my armchair, resisting the urge to squeal and jump for joy that Effy was now mobile and wanted to leave the flat.

She went into the bathroom and showered and got herself ready as I finished up fixing my hair, and before I knew it Effy was putting on a t-shirt that she called a dress and fishnets and smudging black eyeliner around her eyes.

I normally didn't like that she looked like a streetwalker, but right now I was so happy she got off the couch I could almost cry.

Emily showed up at my door about fifteen minutes later, and my god she looked amazing. She was wearing a skin-tight black dress with long sleeves and a high neckline, but a completely revealed back. I'd never really noticed how toned her body was before, but now with it on display so boldly I couldn't not notice.

"Wow, Ems," I said, my voice huskier than usual. "You look...wow."

She smiled at me and eyed me up before winking at me. "You clean up nice yourself, Naoms." She leaned in towards me, her lips tantalizingly close, just centimetres away.

"This is lovely and all but I'd really like to get going sometime today," Effy interrupted, standing coolly against the wall just behind me, effectively scaring the crap out of Emily and I.

"Oh, hello, Effy, didn't see you there," Emily said, diverting her eyes as her face reddened.

"Yes, Effy has finally decided to get off my couch and get dressed and come out with us tonight," I huffed. It was probably a bit too harsh but Effy smiled genuinely at me as she handed me the keys to the flat.

"I owe you a drink...or three," Effy said with a smile as she slinked past me and squeezed my hand, obviously trying to demonstrate her gratitude towards me. I smiled as I watched her walk down the hall, and when I looked back at Emily I noticed that she was doing the same thing.

"She's really something else," she mused. I laughed and nodded before locking my front door.

"Yes, she is," I said as I grabbed Emily's hand and drew her attention back to me. "But tonight I'm going to be selfish. It's all about us. Our friends coming together, us getting together and all of us celebrating. Tonight is not about Effy or Freddie or Katie. Just us."

She smiled up at me and nodded before kissing me, her lips soft against mine. Her tongue ran gently along my bottom lip, asking for access which I quickly granted. Our tongues met and my god I'd forgotten how good she tastes -

She pulled away from me and smiled. "That kiss will have to wait till later." She winked at me and sauntered off down the hallway.

Thanks so much for reading - next chapter will be the pub with everyone! Please let me know what you thought :)