Christmas morning dawned clear and cold on the little cottage at Darkdale Farm. The sun rose on a pure white landscape, the snow flawlessly crisp over the fields and hills. A strong bright light flooded through the curtains of the bedroom, a brilliant and welcome contrast from the previous morning as Laura found herself waking up.

For a few seconds she puzzled over where she was until the realisation of the situation pushed through the remnants of deep sleep and she felt the warmth of Robbie's body next to hers before she fully awoke. His arms were wrapped around her, and she could feel his lips nuzzling into her hair. She was fully in his embrace as he spooned her and she wondered if he was awake. She didn't need to wonder for long. His hands were resting gently on her arms and as she stirred, she felt his caress and then his kisses into her hair. She murmured at the sensation as she became fully awake and turned in his arms. Robbie's lips found her cheek and then her lips as she faced him and they kissed, both aware that this was a new and wonderful experience - to wake up together for the first time.

"Hi" Robbie said softly to her, rubbing his nose against hers

"Hello" she replied, a smile beaming across her face which was met with one equally as broad from him.

"You alright?" He said, his face close to hers

"Mmhmm" she said, still smiling, her eyes half closed. She gently stretched herself and felt the delicious sensation of him pulling her close to his body.

"Are you?" She said. She was a little more awake now and Robbie felt a thrill of seeing her gaze at him through the dregs of sleep. Like Laura, he had woken up and for a few moments wondered where he was until the feel and warmth of Laura's body next to him brought his consciousness and senses to the reality that had unfolded the night before.

"Oh yes" he said with an intimation in his voice which made them both laugh and Robbie pulled her closer, caressing her shoulders and marvelling at the pure delight he felt at feeling her soft smooth skin beneath his fingertips.

Laura's hand found its way to Robbie's chest, her fingers playing for a moment over his skin before she rested her head on his chest. Robbie tucked one arm around her while the fingers of his other hand clasped hers that were resting on his chest and they dozed for a while, both continuing to enjoy the new experience of simply waking up, together.

From outside, the cadences of a cold and still winter morning filtered through the windows of the cottage bedroom. A crow cawed in the distance and the local jackdaws were busy in the gutters of the cottage, flicking the snow aside before upturning clumps of moss to look for insects hidden beneath. The morning air was perfectly still, the snowstorm had passed and left behind it a blast of blisteringly cold air and a clear calm sky which made the landscape seem even colder under the snow.

Snug and wonderfully warm in the bed, Laura shifted her body gently against Robbie's and she felt his hands caress her again and she yawned softly and, now fully awake, she glanced up to look at him. He too was now fully awake and with a contented look on his face, his eyes glancing thoughtfully up to the ceiling. He sensed she was looking at him and his gaze met hers.

"What are you thinking?" She said, her hand caressing his chest as she spoke

He smiled back at her, feeling a warmth in his heart from knowing that she recognised when he had something on his mind.

"Nothing. Well, just that if someone told me I'd be waking up with you in my arms on Christmas morning I'd have though they were off their trolley"

"Me too." Laura said, laughing softly at his turn of phrase and as her own thoughts considered the turn of events that had unfolded she realised she should have been in New York, fast asleep at her brother's house. It occurred to her that even though it was Christmas morning she hadn't really given her family a single thought. It didn't seem to matter, however, nothing mattered other than how she felt right now, tucked up in bed with Robbie after what had been, quite frankly, she thought, an odd couple of days culminating in a glorious night. She glanced at Robbie again, he was looking at the ceiling again and she was suddenly concerned that perhaps he was lamenting the fact that he hadn't made it to his daughter's, despite the turn of events.

"I'm sorry Robbie, you won't see Lyn" she said, her fingers caressing him lightly. Robbie looked back down to her with a smile, his attention now focused on her. He had been thinking about Lyn, about lots of things.

"Ah, she's ok, she's got this new partner, probably glad not to have her old dad around for their first Christmas in their new house"

Laura laughed softly, appreciating Robbie's take on the matter.

"I suppose this is our first Christmas" She said, suddenly not sure if she should have said it. Even though Robbie had made it clear that he was ready for a relationship she knew it was new ground for him, even though she was there to explore it with him.

He looked at her, seeing in her eyes a touch of concern, and he realised that this was all new to her too, that they were both embarking on a new experience that came with a counter weight of emotions and feelings.

"Yeah, it is" he said lifting her hand to his lips and kissing it and Laura felt her heart swell and her stomach squeeze as she witnessed and felt his gesture; and there was no mistaking his conviction to their new found love.

"How about some breakfast" she said, stroking his hand with her thumb "are you hungry? We didn't eat much yesterday"

"I'm starving, although, actually I'm quite happy here too" Robbie said, and his hands smoothed over her back and he pulled her a little closer

"Mmm me too" she said and she tilted her head to his and his lips met hers again and they kissed, both of them returning to the sensations and feelings they'd shared the night before, revisiting and experiencing again the wonder of their newfound intimacy.

Despite being distracted Robbie felt his stomach rumble and Laura heard it too and pulled away from him, laughing softly.

"Perhaps we really should get up and get some breakfast" she said, even though her hands were still caressing him. He gazed back at her

"Mmm." he said in what sounded like agreement but to Laura's surprise, and then delight, he pulled her in for a kiss, "maybe" he said in between another kiss

"Oh" she said softly as his hands had started to explore certain contours of her body and now his kiss became longer

And Laura, with a thrill, realised his intention was very clear - despite his rumbling stomach breakfast was very much second on his list.

Hello folks. Apologies for the delay in posting this chapter – life and work took over again. I think, at some point, there will be a bonus M chapter that precedes this one but for now, I will just carry on with the story – unless I decide to hold it back until next Christmas – and this may be the case as I still have two other stories to complete – so if you are all still up for it, Robson will perpetuate for another year, all being well!