A/N: Bit of a shorter chapter, and also the penultimate one! I wanted to include conversations from different pairings than the norm in this one. Thanks as always to readers and reviewers :)
Zaf, Jo, Malcolm, Harry and Ruth had all enjoyed a hearty roast. Zaf had eaten a mountain of food and was knackered, resting his head back on the chair, a coloured paper hat askew on his head. Next to him was Jo, polishing off the roast potatoes. Malcolm had ordered the ultimate dinner along with Harry and they had both made a mighty effort, Ruth watching on with equal parts horror and amazement. They now decided to vacate the table and move to the bar, where they were joined by Adam and Ros.
"No family dinner then, Zafar?" Harry asked his colleague.
"There was, but my car wouldn't move," Zaf told him.
"That's a shame," said Harry sincerely.
"The snow should have cleared by the New Year; I'll go and see them all then." Zaf smiled, sipping his beer. "What about you? You've got a daughter, right?"
"Yes. I haven't seen her for a while though," Harry mused over a Scotch. It had been years since he'd last seen Catherine, and as nice as it would be to see her again a happy family dinner with the Pearce's was unlikely to happen. Still, in the New Year Harry vowed to try and establish some form of contact with her again, however tenuous, and try to piece his family back together little by little.
"I must say it's so much easier to hold a conversation with you when you're sober," Harry commented.
Zaf laughed, a little sheepish. "The beers got the better of me on that occasion. I'll keep it down to two tonight." He finished his glass and ordered another.
...
Zaf turned to Ros. "Have you had a good day?"
Ros smirked. "Hasn't been bad."
Zaf raised an eyebrow. "What's up, Ros? Regretting turning down a smooch from me under the mistletoe back at Thames House?"
Ros raised her eyebrows. "Gosh, how did you know?"
Zaf laughed. "Seriously though, Rosalind," he scolded. "Be happy. Make yourself be happy."
"What, by drinking my weight in alcohol and sugary coffee?" Ros quipped.
Zaf shrugged. "Works for me." He leant closer, whispering. "And talk to Adam. I haven't said anything, I promise."
Ros smiled gratefully. "Thanks Zaf. The sober you isn't that bad."
"Hey, I recall just being friendly and a bit hyper," said Zaf defensively.
"You hugged me nine times," Ros reminded him.
"Very friendly, then. I'm just that sort of guy." Zaf winked and sipped his beer.
"You know, I'd class a wink as flirty behaviour, Zaf," Ros drawled, "so you owe Adam that tenner."
Zaf rolled his eyes.
...
"Good Christmas, Malcolm?"
"Not bad. Strangely, I miss work. Routine." Malcolm mused over a single glass of white wine. Things had been... lonely, since Colin. Oddly desolate. A lone branch snapping silently in the ongoing gale.
Ros snorted. "You miss having to scrape up in the morning, crash on the sofa at night and get paid peanuts?"
Malcolm smiled a little. "I enjoy getting up early. I never 'crash' on the sofa. And the money doesn't matter. I'm comfortable enough, and luckier than many."
Ros thought about what he had said. The early morning thing seemed beyond ridiculous to her, and sleeping on the sofa had become something of a habit for her. But she knew, under the scorn and the sarcasm, that she did appreciate what she had.
...
"How has your day been, Jo?" asked Malcolm politely.
Jo downed the remnants of her glass in one and turned to him. "Not... perfect, but not bad either."
"Weren't you going to have dinner with your Mum?" Malcolm approached the topic hesitantly, aware of Jo's sensitive nature about her Mum's illness.
"Yeah, she had to go to hospital though. She's fine, though. I'm fine too," she added, smiling gently. "What about you?"
"Oh, yes, it's been rather nice. I went to a rather spectacular carol service last week. Had a good time belting out some festive songs with the tenors."
Jo smiled. "Sounds good, Malcolm."
...
"Have you been embracing the Christmas spirit, Ruth?"
"I spent all of yesterday baking mince pies," said Ruth. "There was a homeless shelter dinner today and I thought I'd pitch in."
"That's lovely of you," said Jo. "And what about Harry?"
"We went for dinner in the evening," confessed Ruth in a happy whisper.
"Good for you, Ruth," complimented Jo. She knew her friend felt uncomfortable sharing too much about her personal life, particularly when concerning Harry, but Jo was pleased that Ruth was getting the happiness she deserved.
...
"Did you have a good day, Adam?" asked Ruth.
Adam finished a gulp of lager. "Great, thanks. Saw Wes. Ate far too much." He laughed.
"And... are you and, Ros..." Ruth asked discreetly.
He shrugged. "Not sure yet. I mean, yeah, I think, it could..." Adam was bordering on shyness, but he trusted Ruth. "It could work, I think. I hope."
"Seems everyone is coupling up," Ruth commented.
"Well, you and Harry, me and Ros, potentially... who else?" Adam was curious.
"Have you not heard? Flatmates becoming more than flatmates?" Ruth hinted.
"Zaf and Jo?!" Adam cried.
"I think so," smiled Ruth. "Perhaps now something to tease Zaf about, rather than the pranks always being on us."
Adam laughed. "Good on them. Now Malcolm is the only single one."
"Well, I've heard rumours that he met a lovely lady at a carol service last week," spilled Ruth.
"Ruth, you dark horse!" Adam shook his head in disbelief and downed his lager. Christmas seemed to have been generous to all.
...