"Ow my head" Kayleigh said as she stirred on the sofa. She looked around and saw the tree John had put up and smiled, before retching and grabbing the bucket.

At that moment John walked through "MORNING!" he said and chuckled.

"Don't John...my heads banging."

"I'm sure it is...brew?"

"I don't think I can keep anything down John...why did I do it?"

"God knows, you were in a right state."

"I didn't do anything embarrassing did I John?"

"I don't know do I? I only picked ya up...Christ knows what you got up to before I got there?"

"I'm mortified that you saw me like that John..."

"I've seen you in that state plenty a time, no surprises there" John smiled "anyway I'm gonna make ya some dried toast, you need something down ya" John got up to leave the living room as Kayleigh grabbed his hand.

"Thank you for looking after me...again."

"Not a bother...though it is becoming a bit regular" he squeezed her hand and went to the kitchen.

Kayleigh managed to eat the toast and have a brew, she decided she needed to have a shower and freshen up ready for her Christmas decoration day.

"I have to pop to me Nans for a bit so I'll leave you here to work ya magic on the decorations."

"Are you going to your Mums for dinner?"

"No she did ask...but I explained that Kayleigh the invalid was back. Just got to sort out me Nans new phone and then drop her off at Mum's. I'll pop t'shop and bring summat back for our dinner."

John kissed Kayleigh on the forehead and left her sitting on the couch where she still had not moved.

"Right, shower!" she said motivationally to herself, she tried to sit up but still felt woozy "5 more minutes" she said.

Later that afternoon John came back to an untouched tree and no sign of Kayleigh.

"Kayleigh?! I'm back!"

"I'm upstairs!"

"What ya up to?" he asked as he went up the stairs, he found Kayleigh lying in bed.

"I'm so ill John."

"Have you eaten anymore?"

"No I can't, I'm just gonna get some more sleep."

"What about the tree?!"

"I'll have to do it tomorrow...I came up to get a shower and just couldn't John."

"What a state...well I'll let ya get some rest, just call me if you need owt" he kissed her on forehead and left her to rest.

John despondently went downstairs, put the food he bought in the fridge and made himself a cup of tea. He sat in the living room staring at the tree 'I can't leave it like that' he thought to himself.

At around 6pm a more vibrant Kayleigh came down stairs, John was in the kitchen getting their tea on.

"Oh that smells good" said Kayleigh.

"Feeling better are we?"

"Yeah, I'm starving...what you cooking?"

"Chops and some roasties."

Kayleigh gave John a hug and went to give him a kiss, John moved away with a disgusted look.

"What's the matter?" asked Kayleigh.

"You...you need to brush ya teeth before you come near me with that mouth."

"Oh my god! Don't say that!"

"It's true."

"Fine, I'll go and get me shower and freshen up?"

"Aye, don't be too long, or ya dinner will get cold."

After eating at the kitchen table, John realised Kayleigh had not yet been into the living room.

"Oh that was lovely John."

John grabbed Kayleigh's hand to get her up from her seat "ey follow me...and close ya eyes."

"Oh John...I don't think I'm up for that right now."

"Eh?... Not that...bloody hell! Just keep ya eyes closed."

John slowly led Kayleigh from the kitchen, down the hall and opened the living room door to lead Kayleigh inside.

"Ok, you can open them now."

Kayleigh opened her eyes to see John had decorated the tree, put lights in the window and tinsel around the living room.

"Oh John!" Kayleigh said clapping her hands excitedly.

"D'ya like it?"

"Yes! It's great John...though I'm gutted I couldn't do it."

"Yeah well you were in no fit state for much, was worried what it would end up like leaving you loose on it like that" he smiled and put his arm round her.

"I thought you hated Christmas, you've done it so well."

"Eh don't sound so surprised, I'm not head of the Christmas team for nowt ya know?"

"You are amazing" she turned to hug him and gave him a kiss "right s'pose I better get me stuff together to get back to our Mandy's."

John looked sad at this "you don't have to go back tonight do ya? You may as well stay now it's getting late."

"But my clean uniform is there, I've only got the one I wore last week here."

"So...I've got a washing machine and a dryer."

"Ohhh...don't you want me to leave?" she giggled.

"No, I don't actually" John said very seriously.

Kayleigh looked at him intrigued sensing a change in his tone "ok I'm happy to stay, I'll just get me uniform down to put in wash and I'll let Mandy know I'll be back tomorrow" she left the embrace to go to the door.

"I don't want you to go to Mandy's tomorrow either" said John still very serious.

Kayleigh turned around at the door "John, why you acting all weird? What's all this about?"

He walked over to her and put his arms round her waist as she put her arms round his neck.

"What I'm trying to get at...and you know I'm no good at this sort of thing...what I'm trying to say is...well...how can I put it..."

"Spit it out John, We do have work in the morning!" she teased.

"Move in here...with me...there I said it. You probably think I'm rushing things now and you can say no...I just thought it might be easier...but it's up to you..." John was babbling and getting flustered Kayleigh looked at him and planted a long kiss on his lips to stop him talking. Afterwards there was a silence, where John's face turned calm and sincere.

"I love having you here, it feels empty when you're gone...just like my car does when your not in it..."

"And I love being here...I'd love to move in with you, I'm practically here most of the time anyway...plus I said we'd be living together by time of Rick and Donna's wedding...I love being right."

"Yeah you and your Jedi mind tricks...I'm sure this isn't really me and it's you working your magic" he smiled.

"Oi, don't say that John."

"I'm joking...so it's official then you're gonna move in?"

"You try stopping me" she moved in closer to him as they shared a passionate embrace.

"Can't wait to tell our Mandy!" Kayleigh said as she left John's grip and went to run up the stairs, she stopped half way up and turned her head round to give John the biggest smile, he was looking up at her, returning her smile with his equally beaming smile.