December 2003

"You're useless, you know that? Move over, we have to leave for Topper's in twenty minutes." Maisy laughed, brushing Pete's clumsy hands out of the way, taking over. Yet, as Pete sauntered carefree to the kitchen grabbing a snack, she had the sinking suspicion she'd been had.

Thankfully, she was only coerced into wrapping the boys' gifts and didn't have to suffer the indignity of wrapping her own Christmas presents on Christmas Eve. Maisy was surprised to find he hadn't even outsourced that job to his mother- there was no way Nora Dunham would allow presents to be wrapped hodge-podge in old newspaper like the small bunch arranged haphazardly under the tree.

Maisy smiled, happy he had prioritized wrapping her gifts over the myriad that were currently piled beside her on the living room floor especially amid their busy schedule- Christmas Eve fell on a Saturday, meaning they had worked right up until Friday, the day before.

Thinking about work- one student in particular- immediately caused stress to crawl up her spine.

It had become routine over the past month for both Philip and Kayla to stay a while in her classroom after the school day finished. They each did schoolwork while Maisy graded and built lesson plans, sometimes giving Kayla some work to do to help around the classroom. Maisy saw a lot of her younger sister's angst in Kayla and did her best to make sure the young girl feel respected and appreciated, without going overboard.

Maisy had tried to reach out to their father to no avail; the messages and notes home went unanswered, and all attempts to delicately ask Kayla and Philip of their home situation had resulted in blank stares or snide remarks. Though she and Philip had begun to bond, he was still despondent around his classmates, and she had come to find Kayla's grades were slipping as well. Her teacher said she was constantly falling asleep in class.

Maisy sought the advice of the Principle- who was of no help- and that of the social worker assigned to the school, who advised her to keep doing what she was doing and that he would keep an eye on the situation.

"Oi! You home?" Pete inquired, a bit of juice dripping from the corner of his mouth, as he sat in front of her, waving his apple like a loon. Snapping out of her thoughts, her eyes focused on Pete.

"What?" She asked muddled.

"You were out of it." He noted, flopping onto the floor beside her taking a monstrous bite. Maisy's eyes grazed slowly over his form; from his powerful legs in khaki 501s, his strong shoulders clad in his cozy, yet ridiculous Christmas sweater- even the crumbs cascading down his chest looked appealing.

"You want a bite?" Pete asked offering his apple to her, all the while knowing exactly what he implied.

"Nice try." She smirked, getting back to her wrapping.

"Whatcha thinkin' 'bout?" Pete asked through a mouthful.

"I'm worried about Philip and Kayla." Maisy replied, setting to wrapping the gifts arranged around her. She pulled a newborn sized onesie out of a shopping bag.

"Really?" She asked, trying to keep a straight face.

"Just wrap it." He countered. Noticing the remaining tension in her stiff movements, his eyes narrowed.

"Why you so worried 'bout 'em?" He asked.

"I just know something is going on in that house." She told him seriously, looking at him solemnly, "I just know it and I don't want to see anything happen to them... I gave Kayla the school social worker's number and my own. I told her to call if she needed anything." She sighed. Pete rubbed her shoulder comfortingly.

"I'm sure they'll be fine, Mase. Enjoy your holiday, it's Christmas!" She gave him a smile and tried to make it look genuine.

"You're right." She said refocusing, trying to get excited for an evening out.

"Oh my God." Maisy squealed in delight as Ned, Keith, Bovver and Swill entered the café. She and Stacy could not help but cackle Ned's head hung low in shame as he meandered through the booths and tables of the bustling cafe.

'What's all this?" Ike asked. Ned stood resolutely as Stacy pulled on his white St. Nick beard while Maisy patted his faux tummy. Pete relaxed back in his seat as multiple platters of starters were brought over.

"This miserable cunt lost a bet. Fuckin' chump." Swill laughed settling into the large corner booth.

"You set me up!" Ned accused, trying to squish his fat suit into the table.

"Like fuck we did!" Keith argued tapping the jingle bell atop Ned's cap. Ned took a look around the table.

"What are you lot wearing anyways?" He asked, observing the particularly terrible Christmas sweaters the two couples were wearing. Bovver awkwardly sat down next to Maisy, as it was the only open seat in the booth. Stacy, already more than a few drinks in raised her eyebrows conspicuously, making Maisy blush as she brought attention to the uncomfortable situation.

"We thought it would be funny." Maisy said, smoothing down the Christmas themed tic-tac-toe pattern of her sweater.

"And I'm fuckin' rockin' this, you bitch!" Pete declared facetiously, gesturing to his "Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal" sweater.

"I don't know about you girls," Stacy cheered, teasing the boys while holding her glass up for a toast, "but I plan on getting thoroughly pissed tonight!"

"All right! All right! I have one: never have I…been caught by old bill doing it in a park!" Pete shouted a few hours and many drinks later, much to the chagrin of Bovver who had to down a shot.

"Old bill?" Maisy asked.

"The cops." He clarified, showing amused patience with her alcohol addled brain. In the months they were together, he had discovered she was quite the lightweight. Her mind was especially fuzzy now after multiple shots.

"Define 'doing it'," She murmured, hoping none of the boys would hear her.

"No way!" Dave shouted. Maisy buried her face in her hands. Pete beamed at her completely enamored by this unknown side of her.

"For you? We'll say anything more than kissing." Pete specified, figuring that would be safe territory for her.

Maisy expression fell and her red nose grew brighter as her reluctantly hand reached for a shot. Instantly the boys began whooping and banging on the table, cheering her on as she threw back the tequila.

"Well go on then, you can't leave it at that!" Swill cried. Maisy's intoxicated eyes rolled to him.

"I would not tell you with my last breath on my death bed." She answered in all seriousness, giving the others a laugh.

"Did you get in much trouble?" Red asked. Maisy smugly shook her head.

"Talked my way out of it." She stated proudly.

"I bet you were brilliant." Pete said completely besotted and pulled her in by the chin for a kiss.

"Jesus fucking Christ, you two are disgusting, you know that?" Ned complained with an exaggerated grimace, making Bovver laugh a little too loud for comfort.

"Oh fuck off, you oversized elf." Pete retorted. Looking annoyed, Keith blandly pulled Ned back down by the back of his trousers into his seat.

"You're both fucking tossers. Merry Christmas." He said, clinking his glass and taking a giant pull, to the amusement of everyone but Pete and Ned.

"Howzat… for a Christmas present?" Pete panted with a smug smirk, his head rolling heavily to face Maisy who lay beside him in their cocoon of shredded wrapping paper, made up mostly of old newspaper.

Maisy reached up for the blanket draped over the arm of the couch, pulling it down to cover their bare bodies, now chilled with the rapidly evaporating sweat.

"It's up there." Maisy chuckled, tucking herself into Pete's shoulder, wondering how her mother would feel about using the hand knit blanket for post-coitus snuggling. "I really like my bracelet." She murmured, holding her wrist up to the sunlight, letting the Christmas morning beams glitter with the delicate gold braid.

"I could tell." Pete laughed, with a swaggering smile. Maisy chortled carefree, happy to be in the moment.

"What did you send my brothers, by the way?" Maisy asked suddenly.

"Hammers gear." He told her with a grin. Maisy let out a gleeful laugh, before turning thoughtful.

"Do you like being in a relationship like this?" She asked.

"'Fuck kinda question is that, Love?" Pete questioned, not understanding where she was going.

"It's just you said, you know you hadn't been in a 'serious' relationship in a while. And I think things are going really good between us, great even, but…I dunno…and I know the boys hound you about it and… I just want to make sure you're still ok with all …this." She explained nervously.

"Mase, I'm lying buck naked on the living room floor with a fit as fuck bird who just got me the new FIFA and is excited to go to breakfast with my cunt of a brother- I'm doing pretty fucking well." Pete answered, both puzzled and amused. "What about you? You happy?" He asked, chuckling when a rosy tint colored her cheeks and ears.

"You make me really happy." She grinned in reply, "Sometimes my head tells me we're moving too fast, but then I think about how I've never been comfortable being myself than I am when I'm with you. That's how I know this is right." She whispered. "That and you're fit as fuck." She laughed.

"Nice one. Plus you don't think I'd shell out the pounds for that bracelet for some tart I plan on ditchin', do ya?" Pete questioned. Maisy rolled her eyes lightheartedly.

"Oh baby, oh baby, tell me more." She deadpanned. Pete suddenly yanked the blanket off them, giving Maisy a fright, and hauled her closer,

"Oh I'll give you more, alright!"

"I don't know who's gonna kill you first, Steve or Shannon." Maisy remarked to Pete as they walked the path to his mother's door.

"What, a man can't buy his future niece or nephew a Christmas present?" He asked with a mischievous laugh.

"Hey, it's your life." Maisy grinned, walking through the door Pete held open for her, as her arms were filled with meticulously wrapped gifts. Maisy refused his offers to carry the plethora of gifts, lest he ruin her particular work.

Maisy gasped as she took in the decorations, dripping from every possible surface in the house, struggling to find an inch not covered in gold shining garlands, or sparkling red and green glitter.

"Oh my God." She breathed in awe.

"Yeah." Pete said, scratching his head. "My dad wasn't all that into Christmas. After he died, she started to go a bit nutty with the decorations. We're startin' to think she may need some help." He said seriously.

"There they are!" Nora squealed to no one in particular, practically gliding across the living room, accosting Maisy with warm hugs as soon as she set down the presents.

Pete hung up their coats chuckling to himself, unwilling to show how much he enjoyed the fact that his mum preferred his girl to him.

"Oh, look at your dress! And those shoes!" Nora gushed, holding Maisy at an arm's length so she could inspect her. Maisy smoothed her structured, knee length black dress, centering the clasp of her gold belt. She had found the simple black pumps with gold metal heels when she went Christmas shopping with Imogen, whom she found preferred the nickname Gen, or Genny.

"Merry Christmas!" Maisy cheered, moving to give hugs to Shannon, whose stomach, with only three more months to go, had swelled considerably since last they saw each other. The two had gone out to lunch a few weekends ago with Nora and found some common ground in their excitement for the newest littlest Dunham.

"You look great!" Maisy complimented, noticing the extra sparkle in her eyes, the rosy glow in her cheeks. Shannon gave a blush, running her hands soothingly over the baby bump

"Oh, thanks. I feel like I'm growing a moose rather than a baby." Shannon groaned

"Bollocks! If it looks anything like his uncle you're growing one handsome kid in there." Pete laughed receiving a gentle slap from his mother. Giving Shannon her hug and kiss, Pete smiled at the sight of his brother rounding the corner to the living room.

"Happy Christmas, bruv!" Pete smiled.

Maisy saw the confusion that crossed Pete's face as his brother gave brusque greetings to each of them, not exhibiting any signs of Christmas cheer. While he was obviously displeased over something, Pete decided to ignore his grouchiness.

"I can see you toned it down a bit this year, Mum." He then said with good-natured sarcasm, looking conspicuously around the room.

"Well, I had no help this year, what with you all being too busy to help your dear old Mum."

"We wouldn't be helping you, Mum- we'd be enabling." Steve laughed, helping Shannon to stand from where she was seated on the couch.

"Oh, you're all wicked children! Wicked, wicked children." Nora grumbled, giving her eldest a pinch on the arm. "Well, breakfast is all set up in the dining room, whenever everyone's hungry."

"Oh God, I'm always hungry." Shannon sighed as they made their way to the spread Nora had laid out for them.

"How is your family doing, Maisy? Do they have any plans for today?" Nora asked after they all settled into their spots around the elaborately decorated table.

"They're doing great! My brothers and sister are all going over to my parents' house in a couple hours. It's a big production over there. My brother actually got them all set up with a webcam for Christmas so Pete and I are going to call in around 2 PM our time, which is 9AM their time." Maisy smiled, "We mailed Christmas presents between us months ago, so we can open gifts together."

"Wonderful! And how about the boys, Pete? What is Bovver doing for Christmas today?" Nora asked.

Pete took a glance at his watch, "Well, its quarter past nine so I'm guessing he's about to start on his second case of Fosters." Steve gave an annoyed scoff at that, ignoring the harsh look Pete cut him. Nora focused on Pete, tusking at him.

"You should've invited him; there's always room for one more. Nobody should be alone on Christmas." She insisted, feeling bad for the young man whose parents had died years ago.

Pete had contemplated it, knowing Maisy and his mother would be more then amenable to the idea, but he also knew Steve and Shannon, and probably Bovver himself, would not be so open to the suggestion, all for different reasons.

"Might as well just invite all the ingrates, yeah?" Steve griped, roughly stabbing at the egg on his plate.

"The fuck's your problem?" Pete asked turning towards his brother, his voice rising and eyes squinting in confusion. Maisy sat a bit straighter, noticing how Pete braced his forearms on the edge of the table with his utensils clasped in his fists as he began to clench them.

"Boys, it's Christmas, please act like the civilized men I raised and leave the bickering alone- at least until after presents- or you might as well leave now and ruin my Christmas." Nora directed, giving each a stern glance to put them in their place, her voice firm and even.

The two glowered at each other for an awkward amount of time before Pete began using his utensils for their intended purpose and not as the weapons he seemed to be contemplating.

Seemingly satisfied, Nora turned to Shannon,

"So what did the doctor say about your heartburn, Flower?"

"Alright my loves, I've been waiting months for this, time for presents!" Nora called out excitedly. Maisy laughed to see Nora gleefully begin handing out presents. Maisy took a seat next to Shannon on the smaller couch while Steve sat on the floor by his wife's feet. "We've got to do this quickly though, or we'll be late for Mass."

Pete went to his mother, who was crouched down retrieving presents from between the tree and the fireplace.

"Lemme get those Mum, you go sit down, yeah?" Pete said pulling his mother away from the tree. Nora seemed like she was going to resist for a second but then laid her hand on her younger son's cheek.

"You're a good boy." She murmured, pursing her lips at him before claiming a seat between the two girls.

Maisy was surprised to find as many gifts from Nora as she received, and was thankful she had found what she considered the perfect gift for Nora: a pair of earrings made of thin gold hammered out into dainty hearts. They reminded her perfectly of the saintly woman, who always had a smile on her face no matter what her boys were up to.

"Oh, they're lovely!" Nora beamed, replacing the simple gold studs she wore with the new earrings.

"I'm glad you like them!" Maisy smiled, trading another with Pete.

"Alright, this one's for the future delinquent you two are cookin' over there." Pete said with a rogue's smile, handing Steve the package. Both Shannon and Steve looked inquisitively towards Maisy, prompting her to put her hands up in the universal "I'm innocent" pose.

"I had nothing to do with this. It was all Pete- all I did was wrap it." She laughed. Steve ripped the wrapping paper and opened the cardboard box, his worried but amused grin sliding off his face like melted butter, hardening into a grim scowl.

"You fuckin' serious, Mate?" He near growled at his brother. Maisy tensed, looking at Pete who still wore a pleased smirk.

"What, you don't like it?" Pete asked, having the decency to seem surprised. Nora reached down pulling the box from her elder son's lap. Finding the claret and blue onesie folded neatly inside the tissue paper she let out a tired, "oh, Pete."

"Of course, I don't fuckin' like it, you arse!" Steve swore, standing up, the pent up aggression oozing thickly off his tense form. Maisy's stunned eyes were glued to the scene in front of her.

"Boys…" Nora warned, but it looked as if she fell on deaf ears.

"You just don't get it, do you? Can't we have one fucking day without you playin' the attention starved wanker?" Steve fumed.

"Mate, don't you think you overreactin' a bit?" Pete asked with a laugh, though she could see the boiling anger creeping up his spine by the tightness in the corners of his mouth. Steve stepped forward, ignoring Shannon's call for him to back down, and harshly jabbed Pete's shoulder.

"You show up, fuckin' bruises all over your face," Maisy blushed at that as she had tried to cover them up with concealer, for Nora's sake, but apparently hadn't done so well, or maybe they were more obvious than the two of them realized, "you act like a fuckin' mug all night long, and then you pull this?"

"You need to step back, bruv." Pete snarled quietly, his bottom jaw jutting out, his breath staccato as he tried to reign in his growing anger. "You've been acting like a prick all morning and I've just about had it."

"You think so, mate?" Steve jeered, stalking further forward holding on to his last few threads of control; and though he stood a few inches shorter, his brute strength appeared to be an obvious advantage. "You're a self-centered little dick and you always have been! When are you going to learn the world doesn't revolve around your dumb fucking jokes and your dumb fucking friends?! You're turning into Dad, you know- look at the state of you!" He said, emphasizing his words with another shove.

Maisy jumped up from the couch, the panic causing the words to flow from her mouth without thought or caution, "Steve, I swear, he didn't mean anything by it! He thought you would like it- that you would laugh! Please-"

Steve turned on a dime to face her, his gaze still furious, "You stay out of it- this is between me and Pe-"

Yet, before he could finish Pete stepped from behind Maisy and clocked his brother across the face, catching him unawares, eliciting a screech from all three women. Nora stood confused, along with Maisy as Shannon moved to kneel by her husband, brushing her hands over his stunned face.

"Oh my God, Pete." Maisy stuttered, in shock as Shannon pushed Steve back down when he tried to jump up, wanting to take on Pete.

"Peter, go upstairs!" Nora commanded, pointing to the staircase, before turning her disappointed stare on her eldest son.

Pete quietly stalked out of the room, not bothering to look at his brother on the floor, stopping only to whisper an apology to his mother. Maisy, still bewildered at how quickly the situation had escalated, finally got her feet to cooperate and followed Pete up the stairs to what she presumed was his childhood bedroom.

Pete's hands curled like fetters on the back of an old desk chair, adorned with club stickers. Maisy held her breath, unsure of what to say. Thankfully, Pete was the first to break the uneasy silence.

"I'm sorry I ruined Christmas." He muttered, his jaw clenching as he sat down heavily.

"You didn't ruin Christmas, its ok." Maisy whispered, "It's not as if you weren't provoked. I'm actually surprised you kept your cool for as long as you did." She reached across and laid her hand on his back, rubbing comforting circles.

"'He's a fucking dick- and then he went after-"

"It's all going to work out, Pete." She said gently, cutting him off before he could wind himself up again. "I bet he's just stressed with baby coming. You said the two of you never had a real father figure growing up, yeah? Imagine how nervous he is without you popping up left and right with reminders of all the things he thinks he fucked up."

"You think I'm fucked up?" Pete asked, casting a dark glance in Maisy's direction.

"I didn't say that." She replied firmly, not allowing Pete to push her away or twist her words. "I said you remind Steve of what he used to be, of who he used to be and he didn't like that person. Unfortunately, Steve did have a kick- ass girlfriend who found him ridiculously hot when he was leader of the GSE, now did he?" Maisy said cajoling a smirk from Pete.

"No." He answered begrudgingly.

"So maybe you need to recognize that's something you keep in mind- his button. Similar to how you hate it when people doubt your ability as a teacher because you're in the GSE, he doesn't like being reminded of his past." She told him, rubbing the stress out of the back of his neck.

"Yeah." He said, taking a steadying breath.

"It will all work out in the end, Love. …You still want to go?" She probed lightly.

"Nah…my Mum would lose the plot if we left now. Let's bang this out and get it over with." He said grimly, heaving himself up from the desk.

"Maybe she'll even give you some extra treats if you apologize first." Maisy offered as she strolled past.

"You reckon?"

"Hey, Baby! I can see you!" Susan Thompson shouted, her face taking up the whole computer screen.

Maisy laughed, happy that the connection was finally working, after a few bum trials, which conveniently gave them a chance to change out of their Christmas finery.

After tense apologies by both of the brothers, the morning had carried on with a calm, albeit superficial, peace. Following an uncomfortably long mass, squished into the small enclosed pew together, Maisy and Pete had ducked out, claiming they needed to go home for the video call with Maisy's family.

"Mom you don't have to yell! I can hear you fine!" Maisy laughed. "Move back so I can see everyone else!" She said as she pulled Pete closer so that he could be seen on the screen as well.

He would never admit it but he was still a tad nervous at having to "meet" Maisy's family, even though he had participated in a few, very brief, conversations with Maisy's family over speakerphone.

"Ah!" Julia squealed as she came into sight. "I was right! He's a hunk!" Abe gently gave her a chastising slap while Mark rolled his eyes.

A deep and thorough blush bloomed over Maisy's face.

"This is Pete." She introduced through gritted teeth before pointing out each sibling, conveniently sitting in age order and her parents. "There's Sam and his girlfriend Candy, Abe, Julia and her fiancé Marcus, that's my little sister Sarah and then my parents Susan and Thom." She said in one breath.

"Call me Thom-Thom!" Her father shouted.

"Pop, you don't have to yell." Abe laughed as Sam rubbed his temple.

"Did you guys have a good morning?" Susan asked. Maisy and Pete exchange dubious looks.

"All things considered, yeah." Maisy smiled as Pete wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Can we open presents yet?" Sarah moaned loudly, as teenagers are apt to do, already bored.

"Please, oh, please!" Julia joined in.

"Sounds like we're opening presents. Have at it, kids!" Thom announced while Abe adjusted the camera so it would follow them to the tree where it was every man for himself. Susan and Candy held back while the boys and Sarah decimated the pile.

Pete looked on stunned at the amount of noise eight people could generate. Maisy handed him his presents, amused at what gifts her family sent over for him; among them a book on beer making, multiple flannel shirts and maple sugar treats and candies. Pete laughed in turn when he had to explain all of the claret and blue they sent over, especially to Sarah's confused and mildly disappointed face.

Pete had insisted on sending over some Christmas Crackers when he learned they were unheard of in the States, claiming they were the best part of Christmas. Each took a turn to open theirs and read their joke, much to the amusement of the Thompsons, particularly Susan who loved the cheesy jokes they held. She insisted they wear the crowns to breakfast as tradition held while Pete and Maisy wore theirs as they sat on the couch nibbling on their sweets, settling a maple craving that had been steadily growing in Maisy over the past few weeks.

Pete had no semblance of loyalty when it came to trading post meal stories; instead he gave a very detailed reenactment of his first "Brit-Style" driving lesson with Maisy and the many pedestrians she very nearly took out.

"It's not my fault they do everything ass backwards here!" Maisy bemoaned.

"That's no excuse Maisy Mouse!" Sam exclaimed, "What about the first time I took you driving and you nearly flipped the truck?"

"It was mud season!" She retorted, but it was too late; Pete was already cackling, becoming fast friends with her brothers who then monopolized the conversation, extolling various beers and lagers, and making plans for future trips across the pond.

Eventually, their time together began to wind down. The boys signed off to go play with the new snowplow Thomas had received while Candy and Julia shopped online for Grooms' tuxedos.

Maisy was proud of herself for keeping herself together and shedding no tears as they logged off.

"Today was fun." She sighed, curling into Pete's side, playing with her new bracelet.

"I'm knackered and it's just gone 7. This is pathetic." He yawned, getting more comfortable on Maisy's plump couch. Jerry had long since retired to the bed, his little puppy snores travelling into the living room.

"I know. This is one sad display, Dunham." Maisy sighed, slouching further down into her food induced coma. "I'm never going to eat anything ever again."

"Popcorn and 'It's a Wonderful Life', then?" Pete asked hauling himself off the couch to raid Maisy's cupboards.

"Good God, you are a hunk."

A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks for sticking around and reading chapter 8. This might be kinda long so –sorry! :)

I'm trying to balance some of the more light hearted and angsty-er moments in this chapter, which is one of my weaknesses as a writer, so I hope you liked it! I am much more suited to short stories style-wise, but I love to write longer narratives. Oh well, que sera, sera.

Firstly, I would like to send a big THANK YOU out to Kaybaby1127, who gave me the motivation to finish this chapter, and for all of her kind words, even though I kind of coerced her into giving them :b Thanks gurl! lol

Also thanks to everyone else who reviewed, you all are the best! I try to respond to each one, but sometimes that does not happen. If I did not respond to yours, know that I'm sorry!

Feel free to leave me a line about your feelings on this chapter. I happen to go along with Poe's thought of writing being a reciprocal relationship between the author and reader, so I love hearing what you have to say. Your thoughts always shape the way I craft this story.

That all being said, I have a question I'd appreciate an answer to in your reviews: How do you all feel about the length of the chapters? Most are in the 4,000 range like this one, though a few are in either in the 5,000s or the 3,000s, and last chapter was about 2,900. Do you have a preference? I know a couple of you mentioned length in previous reviews, and I appreciated your answers, but I'm interested in hearing from more of my readers as well since so few of you responded and this story gets fairly decent traffic for an older movie.

So once again, thanks for reading favoriting, following and reviewing!

Keep your eyes open for more and if you feel so inclined, leave a review!

XOXO Melinda