Hope you enjoy this chapter, please leave a review! Sorry its so long since I last updated.

Chapter 31

Zoe

Christmas day came around and despite feeling sad that Lou wasn't with us this year I had Ash, Ella, Sharice and Jess and Christmas was great.

Jess came into wake Ash and I up at 6. Ash and I had been up until 3 wrapping presents and packing stockings. Because this year was going to be our first Christmas together as a family Ash and I had gone all out on gifts. Each girl had their own stocking despite the older two knowing Santa wasn't real Ash and I had decided to surprise them with one, which was hung by the fire place in the lounge the previous night with a sherry and mince pie and a carrot.

Ella had seen Jake on Christmas eve and they had joined us all to go to see Jack and the Beanstalk in panto at the theatre.

Jess came in jumping up and down on the end of the bed chanting "Its Christmas! Its Christmas!" over and over again until we got up and took her downstairs.

She insisted on waking Ella and Sharice up on the way down, luckily they didn't mind.

As we entered the living room we were greeted by an amazing sight. A winter wonderland of presents tinsel and the scent of pine and gingerbread. Jess gasped and was overjoyed at the sight. She ran to the fireplace and squealed with happiness.

"He came! He came!" she smiled.

"Yeah, and he even left presents for Sharice and Ella!" I told her.

"Wow, that's amazing!"

"Why don't you all sit and I'll bring your stockings over." I said as she eagerly sat on the sofa, legs jiggling.

Ella and Sharice sat next to her.

"This is amazing Zoe, Ash, I cant tell you how happy I am." Sharice said, smiling properly for the first time in weeks.

"Yeah, this is fantastic Dad, Zoe." Ella added.

"Well it's Christmas, our first of many together I hope." Ash said looking at me. I smiled in response. He was the one.

The day went as well as it could, Jake popped over to see Ella bearing gifts for us all. Ash had brought him a gift to share with Ella, a pack of condoms. Both embarrassed he left shortly after making excuses about being late for Christmas lunch at home.

Ash and I cooked lunch together, Ella and Sharice played alongside Jess in the playroom.

On the present front this year Ash and I had spoiled all the girls, Jess had gotton far too many toys, she had Barbies, Frozen, Madagascar, Friends lego and some more, we had told her that this year was a special year and that it wouldn't be the same every year and she seemed to understand that.

We gave Sharice a mac book to help her school work and some jewellery and make up, I had found a locket online that was a silver heart shape and put a picture of her parents and grandparents in one side and then Ash, Jess, Ella, herself and I in the other part. I had also given Jess one but she was too young to wear it.

Ash and I had had a long discussion on what to get for Ella, she had been saving up for a flat to rent and Ash was still renting his house out to a family so we had an extra income from that currently so we had brought a 2 bedroom apartment close by that we were going to let to her until she could afford to buy her own or pay us back. We had not given the keys to Ella yet and were planning on going on boxing day to surprise her.

Christmas dinner was delicious, mostly down to Ash, not me, and Ella helped out for a bit. We had all sat around the table, pulled crackers, laughed, told jokes that were not at all funny and had a really good time together.

Ash and I had also had been given some lovely presents from the girls too. Ella had brought me a cushion which had a tree on it, at the top was Ash and I, then it was Ella, then Sharice and finally Jess, underneath was written 'our family tree'. It was beautiful and I loved it. Sharice had given Ash and I a box of chocolates and biscuits, brought out of her own money, she had been insistant of buying everything herself and refused my offers of help. And Jess, with the help of Ash and Ella, had brought me a candle and some make up. Ash ahad received a 'best dad' mug from Ella and some chocolate, and a set of cufflinks from Jess.

I had given Ash a new watch, that he had pointed out one day whilst we had been shopping and gone back to buy it, and a new wallet, as his old one was falling to pieces. Ash had given me a necklace with a simple chain and a diamond on with a set of earrings to match and another necklace with was made up of 3 interlocking circles each with a name on; Jess, Sharice and Ella.

Christmas day in all went well, everyone got along with each other and we had a really good time together as a family. Boxing day came and we showed Ella her present she was overjoyed and very thankful to us, it was only small but it meant that she could have her own space and because she wanted to go to Holby uni the flat was perfect a sit was a 5 minute walk to campus, the extra room would allow for her to have a flat mate to help towards bills.

Short chapter sorry update asap please R&R