Maybe shorter than I expected, but here is part 3. It just felt right to end it where I did...

Merry Christmas everyone :)

Part 3.

Clara parked up on Danny's drive and grabbed her bags out before knocking on the door. Dann answered quickly and let her in, taking one of her bags.

"Merry Christmas eve," she smiled, putting everything down and kissing him softly. "I bought everything as promised, there's some food in that bag you've got," she told him. "Oh and there's some presents in there too," she winked.

"Ah good, well we have to decorate the tree first before we can put presents under it," he replied.

"Danny it's Christmas eve why on earth is your tree not decorated?" she asked, slipping her shoes off.

"Well the main one in the lounge is, but I have my own in the upstairs room and I thought I'd save it…" he smiled, "come on I'll show you."

Clara followed him upstairs into what she decided was basically a second lounge, this house was almost as bad as her Dad's new one. Danny opened a box full of decorations and they immediately started to place them on. She made sure he spaced them out properly, it had to look neat. It took time, but soon enough the tree looked covered in baubles and tinsel with just a sprinkling of lights. They stood back proudly, looking at their work. Danny slipped his arm around Clara's waist and she returned the gesture, leaning against him a little.

"It's beautiful," she told him.

"Like you," he replied and she hit him softly.

"Such a cheesy line," Clara chuckled, "lucky you've already got me really." Danny smiled and scooped her up in his arms, kissing her and carrying her over to the sofa, laying her down, "what are you doing?" she asked, smiling up at him as he hovered over her.

"Just enjoying the sight of a beautiful tree and my beautiful girlfriend," he told her, stroking her hair back. Clara smiled and eventually sat up a little so he could sit down.

"So I'm your girlfriend now then?" she asked, smirking a little as he suddenly looked a little nervous, "I like that," Clara shuffled to lean against him, "you're the best Christmas present I could have asked for."

"And you say I've got the cheesy lines," Danny chuckled and kissed her head, "you want me to open the wine?" Clara nodded and allowed him to move. Danny returned with the bottle and two glasses, sitting down on the sofa and pouring it out for her.

"You're an angel," she smiled, sipping the wine, "mmm good stuff, film?" she asked and Danny nodded, flicking the TV on and flicking through, "ah stop stop I love this one," she told him and he laughed, putting the remote down. Clara settled down against him, upright enough so she could still sip the wine but laying enough to be comfortable. Danny looked down and smiled as she concentrated on the film, she looked so comfortable. He looked back up to the film and started to watch, sipping at his own wine.

The film was nearing end when he looked down and realised Clara had dropped off. He smiled, taking her glass from her hand before she dropped it and placed it down. She shuffled a little after he had done so, getting a little more comfortable as she slept. Danny held her to stop her from falling off and looked back up to the TV. An hour or so passed, he changed the channel but kept the volume low to avoid waking her. Suddenly he heard a whimper and looked down as she started to move in his grasp. She looked stressed, her movements getting sharper. Danny sat up, her head still resting on his lap. He stroked her hair gently and bent down, kissing her forehead. She woke up with a start, sitting up and looked round to him.
"It's okay, you're safe, it's just a dream," he told her, Clara sighed as she realised where she was.

"I'm so sorry, it's just the time of year," she smiled, "I'm alright."

"Your Mum?" he asked and Clara nodded, "it's alright, I understand. Can I do anything?"

"Kiss me again? You're a good distraction," she told him and he was more than happy to oblige. "Mmm definitely better," she smiled, "what time is it?"

"About half 9, why?" Danny replied, their foreheads still touching.

"I'm kind of tired…" she winked, kissing him again, "really quite tired," she said and Danny nodded, smiling.

"I guess we should go to bed then?" he asked and Clara nodded, following him through.

#-#-#-#

Clara woke up first on Christmas morning, smiling at the mess the sheets were in and pulling them up a little, looking up at Danny as he began to stir.
"Merry Christmas," she kissed his cheek gently and smiled, "so much for that spare room huh?"

"I guess that wasn't so necessary," he grinned, "merry christmas."

"Is it time for presents yet?" Clara sat up suddenly, smiling expectantly. Danny rolled his eyes, chuckling.

"I suppose it is yes, I'll go and make tea - you go investigate the tree," he smiled, grabbing his robe off the door and putting it on. Clara watched him go before she got up, pulling on one of his t-shirts and making her way to the lounge where she pulled out the presents from beneath the tree, sitting with them around her. Danny came in with two mugs of tea soon after, handing her one. "What we got then?" he asked. Clara handed him the one from herself and sat back, drinking the tea and not saying anything, almost a little nervous. They'd known each other for just over a week, it was hardly ideal circumstances for present buying. Danny sat down on the sofa, unwrapping it slowly. "Don't look so nervous Clara, I'm sure I'll love it,"

"You're taking forever to open it, that really isn't helping," she laughed and changed her position a little while he finished unwrapping, revealing a box. He opened it, "oh wow… Clara this is…" he pulled out the watch, "it's perfect."

"You mentioned how your watch broke, I saw it and it suits you," she moved on to her knees.

"I love it," he put it on, doing the strap up, "exactly what I wanted, thank you so much," he made his way over to her and put his hands gently on her cheek, kissing her, "your turn." Clara watched as he found her present and handed it over. "Here," he sat back. Unlike Danny, Clara had the paper open in seconds, it was another box. She opened it and almost dropped it in shock.

"Danny, it's beautiful, I…" he took the box from her, pulling the necklace out carefully and clipping it around her neck as she held her hair out the way, "this must have been expensive…"

"And the watch wasn't?" he raised an eyebrow and Clara smiled, "I had to, the moment I saw it I knew I needed to see you wearing it." Danny kissed her neck where her hair was pulled back. "What are you thinking?" he asked as she held the pendant in her hand.

"We've known each other for 9 days and here we are, Christmas alone, perfect presents. It feels so right, like this is where we're meant to be, but everyone will judge us. They don't get how much this means, how we just know," she told him, turning round the face him. "I don't want to spend my Christmases with anyone else," Clara told him.

"Me neither," he told her, "who cares what anyone else thinks? This is our life, our relationship, only we can know the truth."

"Marry me," Clara suddenly said, even she wasn't sure where it had come from, but she didn't regret saying it. "I love you so much, this is the perfect Christmas and I don't ever want it to end, I don't ever want to lose you," she told him.

"How could I ever say no?" he replied, hugging her tightly, "I'm going nowhere, you're stuck with me." They kissed multiple times, Clara wiped at her cheeks as they separated, "I know the thought is terrifying but you'll have to cope," he grinned, kissing her cheek gently where the tears had fallen.

"We should deal with the rest of these presents," Clara spoke quietly.

"Can we wait, I just want us to enjoy this moment," he stood up, helping her. "Let's get dressed and have breakfast, maybe go for a walk? Just together." Danny squeezed her hand gently and she nodded, following him back upstairs.

After eating they both wrapped up and walked outside, taking a walk around the area. Clara smiled as she saw the children out playing on their new bikes and other toys. Danny watched her face, knowing what she was thinking.
"One day," Danny whispered, "how're you doing?"

"A little overwhelmed, insanely happy…" she looked up at him, "this is mad."

"It is, but I kinda like mad," Danny spun her around spontaneously. "I'll take mad." Clara laughed as she spun into him.

"Yeah I'm pretty happy with mad," she placed a hand on his chest, standing on her tiptoes and kissing him softly.

"You look so cute in your beanie hat and coat," he smiled, moving a strand of her hair that had fallen in her face.

Clara shrugged, "I'm comfortable," she finally stepped down and took his hand again to continue walking. "We should get back and start cooking," she muttered as they wandered. Danny nodded and changed direction. "When do your parents come home?"

"2nd January, why?" he asked cluelessly.

"Because I really don't want to go home tomorrow," she smiled up and he understood.

"Like I'd let you go anywhere," he told her, unlocking the door as they arrived back at his. "Go and sit, I'll bring wine and get started on the dinner," he told her.

"No way! I'm helping, I'm not letting you do everything yourself. We can both drink and cook," Clara winked and slipped her shoes and coat off. She went through to the kitchen, pouring two glasses of wine. Danny joined her and they quickly got into a routine with lunch. They moved around the kitchen in a weird dance together, joking with each other as they got things ready. Things were finally going into the oven and Clara started to wash some dishes up. Danny shut the oven door and stood up, walking over and standing behind her, reaching his arms around her to wash his hands in the water. Clara grinned, picking some bubbles off the top and leaning back to put them on his nose. He blew them off and rolled his eyes, placing his wet hands to her cheeks causing her to jump back a little.

"Hey that wasn't fair!" she exclaimed, Danny laughed at her reaction, "meanie," she put on an upset face but it didn't last long when he grabbed her waist and spun her around, soon putting a smile on her face. He lowered her carefully to the ground and Clara reached over to grab her wine glass.

"You'll be drunk before dinner if you're not careful," he grinned and Clara shrugged.

"It's Christmas, who cares?" Danny couldn't argue with that and grabbed his own glass to have a sip. "Maybe we should open the other presents now?" They made their way back to the lounge and knelt down by the presents they'd earlier abandoned, most of which were from their respective families.

"You go first then," Danny smiled and Clara found the present from her Dad. She sat down properly and unwrapped it.

"Another box, why is everything in boxes?" she laughed and opened it up, stopping her laughter as soon as she did.

"What is it?" Danny asked, not wanting to lean over but rather intrigued at her reaction. Clara spun the box round to show him the gold watch inside.

"It's my Mum's, he must have got it fixed…" she picked the box up and took the watch out. Danny leant over now to help her get it on her wrist. "When I was little my Mum would always tell me that this watch kept perfect time, she'd always know if I was late."

"It's lovely," he smiled, "really thoughtful of him," Danny commented and Clara nodded. After a few moments of looking at the watch she looked back up to him and instructed him to open his own present now.

Danny picked up the present from his parents, carefully unwrapping it as Clara watched on. He pulled out the jumper inside, praising how much it suited him given his parents general lack of fashion sense, but as he picked it up an envelope fell out. He opened that, pulling out the tickets inside along with a note.

2 tickets to the ET concert you mentioned. Take whoever you wish, have a wonderful Christmas lad x

Clara waited for him to look up and when he finally did he looked very happy, she waited a little longer before he explained.
"I mentioned this in passing, I didn't expect them to bother because they would be away. ET was my favourite film as a kid, I watched it religiously," Danny handed the tickets over to her, "you free Wednesday night?"

"This sounds amazing, I'd love to," she smiled, "I'll have you know I broke our ET video from watching it so much, my Mum was so angry!"

Danny grinned at her as she remembered, "you're so cute you know that?" he grabbed another present and chucked it her direction. "Who's this one from then?"

"My Gran, it'll probably be socks," she chuckled and opened it, revealing - as expected - socks. Clara held them up and Danny laughed at the little foxes on them. "Then, if I'm right…" she felt inside the sock and pulled out a gift card. "Predictable as ever," she chuckled, "she knows I love to shop. I'll have to phone her later actually."

"Well I'm sure we can fit in some boxing day shopping if you wish," he told her, "in the meantime - lunch."

When lunch was finished Clara and Danny both collapsed down on the sofa, turning the TV on but generally just flopping into each other. Chara leant against Danny, looking up to him. "That was incredible, but I am so full I don't think I can move for a week…" she groaned and he chuckled at her moaning.

"Well nobody's going to make you," he grinned and kissed her head gently, "this has been the perfect day,"

"It's the best Christmas I've had in years, I mean it, I thought this Christmas was going to be really lonely and dull, but it's been the complete opposite and that's all thanks to you," she smiled and turned to look at the TV. Danny held her tight, watching the TV but occasionally glancing at Clara. After a while he noticed she'd dropped off and moved to pick up the blanket from the end of the sofa, laying it over her so she didn't get cold. Whatever happened now, he had the most beautiful fiancée in the world. He didn't care what anyone said, this was everything he needed.

#-#-#-#

The rest of Christmas day was spent on the sofa and when Clara woke up on boxing day she didn't really remember getting into bed. She looked at the clock and smiled as it was already 11 - this was the longest lie in she'd had in weeks. Then she looked the other way and realised Danny had disappeared. She sat up, grabbing her phone to check for messages and rolling her eyes that there was one from Danny.

Don't move, I'll be back xx

Clara smiled at his message, resting back down and flicking through other bits on her phone. After a few minutes she heard the door open and put her phone down to see Danny arrive with tea. He was already dressed and looked like he'd been out.

"Where on earth have you been this early?" Danny sat down on the bed, handing her a mug. She looked at him as he settled, smiling at the cheeky grin on his face. "What's that face for?"

"Nothing," he shrugged innocently and Clara chuckled, sipping at her tea, "You just look so beautiful," Danny told her, running a hand through her hair and kissing her cheek. "Good morning."

"Good morning to you too, are you okay?" she asked, resting her head on his shoulder.

"More than, I woke up to the most gorgeous sight," he told her, "I don't ever want you to leave."

"I can't stay when your parents get home, we both know that won't go down well," she sighed, playing with his fingers a little. Then she thought a moment before looking up, "but I have my own place,"

"What are you saying?" he didn't want to assume, but his heart was far ahead of his head.

"I'm saying move in with me. I haven't got the fancy house with 2 lounges but it's pretty cosy," she hadn't really finished talking when he stopped her with a kiss.

"I'd love to, I'd absolutely love to. I don't need the huge house, I just need you," he smiled and stroked her hair back softly. Clara leant over and put her mug down before returning to his grasp. "I love you so much… and I don't think I can wait any longer."

"For what?" she asked and Danny shook his head, putting a finger to his lips before standing up and disappearing out of the room for a moment, returning to her soon.

"Danny what's going on?" Clara asked. His hands were behind his back as he walked over and sat down. He finally revealed his hands and opened a tiny ring box in front of her. "Danny…"

"I know you proposed and all that, but I wanted to make this proper," he took the ring out.

"Is that where you went this morning?!" Clara asked, her hand being taken by Danny as he slid the ring on.

"Well I wanted to beat the sales rush," he shrugged, "and I needed to find the perfect one."

Clara looked from him to the ring and back again, "It is perfect, it's… stunning,"

Danny brought her hand up and kissed the finger with the ring on softly, "we should celebrate."

Clara thought about that for a second and then flopped back down, "honestly? I just want to stay here with you and not move. Outside will be so busy, I just fancy a lazy day," she looked up at him, "do you think we should tell people?"

"Maybe another day, let's just make this you and me today," Danny smiled, settling down with her. "Just you and me."