Sorry guys, I'll get around to prompts either tomorrow or the day after, Rebecca and Rachel, yours look wonderful!

Enjoy!

"Now," Mara sighed, contentedly "Now, doesn't it feel like Christmas?" Jerome wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, and kissed the base of her neck, humming happily. Mara rolled her eyes, a small lamp was on in the corner of the room, basking the room in a dim, golden glow. The Christmas tree stood majestically beside the fireplace, stockings hung up, and tinsel glittering. It smelt like mince pies and warm bread and holly, which was hung just outside their front door. The red pillows now seemed incredibly fitting with their light green mint sofa, and Mara knew, she knew, this was the best Christmas they'd have.

Jerome spun her around to face him, and kissed her forehead tiredly "It looks miraculous Jaffray," he sat on the sofa, looking up at her "But we still have that small issue of..."

"Inviting Mick?" Mara bit her lip, she and Jerome weren't married, but they lived together in this wonderful little house, and they were so happy. Mick had recently lost his job, and he couldn't get back to see his parents due to all the snow causing road closures. And 'luckily' he lived near enough to Mara and Jerome, that they could invite him over to have Christmas with them. "I think we should." She stated firmly, looking down at Jerome. Jerome looked up at her, eyes glittering beautifully from the golden snowflake lamp

"And why is that? Because you still have feelings for him?"

Mara sighed, shaking her head, brushing her hair back "Jerome, of course I still have feelings for him, I loved him. But I don't anymore, now, he's a brother to me. And I love you." Jerome looked up at her, nostrils flaring slightly

"I don't want him in our house. He'll take you away from me," his voice became raw and scratchy and high pitched "He'll take you away just like he did when we were back at Anubis House. He'll take you away and I won't get you back,"

Mara stared at him sadly "He never took me away from you in Anubis House, Jerome," she shook her head "We were together there, you and I were never together," Jerome said nothing and she sighed "So...you can honestly look me in the face, and tell me that you'll cast Mick away from our door step?" Jerome nodded and Mara stared at him. He relented

"Fine." He nodded "Fine. But if you do go back to him, just note, that I am allowed, and will, kill him." Mara smiled, wrapping her arms around him and kissing him softly.

Line Break

"I'm sorry, what?" Mick repeated, he sipped the hot chocolate, Mara was up in bed, Jerome and Mick were downstairs, watching the football. Mick was watching it for fun, Jerome was down here for ulterior motives. Jerome said nothing, staring down at the bag of marshmellows in his hands. Ashamed. "You want me to..."

"To flirt with Mara." He cleared his throat, nodding to look at Mick, who was sat there, frozen despite the warm flickering flames from the fireplace. "I want you, to flirt with Mara, and I want to see if she'll kiss you,"

Mick nodded, though he didn't understand a word of it, and Jerome saw that. "So...you want me, to kiss my ex-girlfriend, who I still have feelings for, while you watch, and see if she kisses me back?" Jerome nodded, Mick frowned. "That doesn't sound like something you would do if you really trusted her." Jerome looked down again, ashamed. Mick sighed "Also, it seems as though I'm getting set up here. So, I flirt with Mara, she rejects me, and then the two of you come out with a stronger relationship when you realise that she's finally over me?"

"Mick," Jerome set down the bag of delicious treats "I don't ask you for much. I let you into our house, our home. We've known each other since we were eleven years old, if Mara came back to you, would you really date her?" Mick stared at Jerome levelly, and shook his head

"No, no of course I wouldn't. I may still have feelings for her, but they aren't love anymore. Just...just something more than friendship, but not quite soul mate. I know that whoever I end up with won't be her, but it'll be someone...97% the same. It's that 3% Jerome, that three per cent that doesn't quite match me."

Jerome nodded "So you'll do it? You'll do it and you won't get hurt?"

"What happens after? What if she says yes?"

"We'll have to break up."

"And if she says no?"

"I'll trust her."

"But she'll stop trusting you. After you tell her that you set her up." Jerome stilled

"I hadn't really thought of that,"

Line Break

"Hey Mars," Mick smiled, sliding his hands into his jean pockets, Mara turned from re-painting the wall, and set the roller down, wiping her hands on her already mucky jeans.

"Hey Mick," she smiled brightly, Jerome watched, hidden behind the bookcase, with a perfect view of the whole room. "What's up?"

"Well..." Mick smiled shyly "Actually, I'm here...b-because Jerome's out," Mara nodded, "And...well...Mara, my miraculous Mara, I'm still in love with you. Totally, and insanely in love with you. I have been, ever since I moved to Australia. I love you so much,"

Mara stared at Mick, wide eyed, and Jerome watched her movements carefully "Mick...I-I'm dating Jerome..." she looked down, taking a deep breath "So...we can't tell him," Jerome blanched, almost collapsing, but he gripped the bookcase, determined to see. She gripped Mick's jacket and pulled him to her, and they kissed.

Mick wrapped his arms around her, remembered of when they were dating, and pushed her against the not yet painted wall, his hands in her hair. They separated as Mara tugged desperately at his jacket "God, why did you even date Jerome? He's such an idiot," Mick said loudly. Mara smiled

"Never did trust me. Pretty darn ungrateful."

"He's a sneak. A lowlife."

"Mick," Mara smiled, nudging him, and the two pulled away casually "Let's not torture him any more," he smiled toothily, and they both turned to face the bookcase knowingly. Jerome stepped out, eyes wide.

"You knew?" he whispered incredulously. Mara smiled

"Mick told me, as soon as you asked him last night. Jerome Henry Clarke," she pushed his elbow "Why on earth would you ask him to do that?" Jerome stared at her, agape. Mick laughed, punching Jerome's shoulder

"Come on mate, like I'd really hit on your girl."

Jerome stood there, totally stumped.

"Mick," Mara whispered, he nodded, leaving the two of them in the room, but not before laughing once again at Jerome's facial expression. "Jerome," she sighed "Why on earth? Do you really not trust me?"

"I just wanted to see," he whispered brokenly. "I just needed proof."

"Proof?" she took hold of his hands "So me telling you isn't enough? You need to set up traps and tests to see if I'm as good as my word? I trust you," she shrugged.

Jerome bit his tongue, but it came out anyway "Yeah, but I've never cheated on someone."

Mara's gaze dropped, her smile faded, and she stared at her shoes, untangling her hands from his and stepping back. "That's true," she whispered, Jerome instantly regretted it, but dared not step forward in case she ran away. "I kissed you while I was dating Mick. And..." she shook her head "That was very wrong."

"Mara," he whispered, moving his hand forward to capture her wrist, but she moved back again, used to his movements now.

"No, Jerome," she smiled sadly, looking up at him with watery eyes "How very right you are," she nodded "I forgot, I forgot that I was a cheater. Of course you don't trust me," she whacked her head slightly as if scolding herself for forgetting "How could you? You can never trust someone like me, because if I kissed you when dating Mick, who knows what I'll do when I'm dating you-"

"Mara," he tried again "No, it's just, well...well, you know that who I am. I don't trust people, it's a survival instinct,"

"Seems like you've signed your own death warrant," came another voice, Mick came back into the room, shaking his head at the couple. "Jerome, Mara only cheated on me once, and it was with you. The guy she is now in love with. And other than that, her track records perfect. You mean to tell me that yours is completely clean, Clarke?" he shook his head "Remember when you went from girl to girl, breaking hearts, using them then walking away. And Mara still trusts you, like that," he snapped his fingers, meeting Jerome's eyes "I guess it means she loves you more-"

"That's not true!" Jerome declared honestly "I love her way more than she loves me! I followed her around like a puppy for 2 years, and my love never wavered-"

"That doesn't mean that now you love me more! You have no idea how much I love you! You idiot!"

"Don't be stupid, Jaffray!" Jerome moaned "I'd do anything for you-"

"I'd do anything for you!"

They stared at each other for a moment, before they burst out laughing.

"Oh Jaffray," he whispered, running a hand through his hair "I'm a fool. Forgive me,"

"Of course," and she drew him in, pressing his lips to hers.

Mick smiled, "Aw guys, I'm glad you're back together," he leaned against the wall, and after a few moments passed, shifted uncomfortably "Uh, guys?" he cleared his throat loudly, but neither turned, too absorbed in the ways their lips were joined. Jerome's hands firm around her waist, and hers in his hair. Mick knocked against the walls "Hello?!" still nothing. He turned with a sigh, and headed downstairs.

It was going to be a long Christmas.