If you aren't getting this theme for these as well but these are all trying to use as little dialogue as possible. Mainly because I think that is where I could end up writing a lot. Or sometimes that is where I get stuck...

Enjoy this and I will see you again on Friday.

THREE - A cosy fireplace with stockings hung by the chimney

There were only two weeks of the year that Rachel would ever consider going on holiday and that was right in the middle of the summer holidays when everyone would be away. So she never bothered.

And it wasn't like Eddie didn't know this when he booked the trip.

And she tried her hardest to be appreciative of the gesture. But even that wasn't enough to hide her disappointment. She thought that Eddie knew her. Understood her. But it was clear that he didn't.

Because going away for Christmas was the last thing she would ever do.

Yet she packed her suitcase appropriately. She helped Eddie with all the little things that he had forgotten about. She even took charge over their passports and boarding passes.

The feeling between them hadn't changed. She was aware that Eddie knew that she still wasn't keen on the idea. It was probably rather ungrateful of her to still be upset about it but she couldn't hide her feelings.

The trip to the log cabin that Eddie had booked was done in silence. She would have thought that Eddie would have started up a conversation but now, she feared, even he was regretting the gesture that was so sweet but maybe not well thought out. They were still in the early stages of their relationship. As much as a few things had changed, it was going to be a long process for Eddie to get her out of her workaholic tendencies. Even at home, he still struggled to pull her away from the work she had planned to do that evening. Mainly because her work was always more than his marking. It hadn't caused an argument yet but Rachel wasn't sure what this holiday was going to do to their relationship. Maybe the worst part of it was that it was a strain that she had put there. And for not really a good reason.

The first day was them getting settled in. They unpacked what they felt like they needed to unpack from their suitcases before going to find a local grocery store to get some food. The atmosphere between them wasn't how it should have been and Rachel knew that she would have to make more of an effort.

It was why Rachel allowed Eddie to sleep in the next morning while she attempted to get herself comfortable with the idea of being away for Christmas. And once Eddie was awake, she did feel a little more up for whatever he had planned.

And that night, she made him dinner and tried to make everything seem like it was normal. She knew that she had a hell of a lot of making up to do and there was no guarantee that Eddie would forgive her for her behaviour. It wasn't fair for her to act like a child. She hadn't been able to take a holiday for so long, with only herself to blame for it. And there was no need for her to ruin Eddie's holiday.

By the time Christmas arrived a couple of days later, Rachel had relaxed into it. She knew that Eddie had noticed but she could feel the apprehension that it could be only for the day. She poured herself into trying to make it the best Christmas for Eddie.

It was later that day, when they were curled up on the sofa, that Rachel knew that she had to say something. Eddie had brought some decorations with him and he had done a good job of decorating the living room. It was, honestly, how everyone saw Christmas. The fresh wave of snow was still clinging to the windows and with the fire roaring, the room felt like their warm bubble. She had told Eddie that she had always wanted Christmas to be special and he had given her a picture-perfect place to spend Christmas, from the snow outside to the stockings hanging over the fireplace.

And she did feel guilty for acting the way that she did.

"I'm sorry, Eddie," Rachel said.

"I know. And I should have taken baby steps." He said.

More should have maybe been said but, for Rachel, she knew that it was important for them to enjoy the rest of the time that they had and talk about it more when they got home. But Rachel was glad that she did say something. And maybe more glad that things could change. Even though she was sure that it was going to take a lot of patience on Eddie's part. But she knew that it was worth changing for Eddie. And she knew instantly what her first New Year's resolution was going to be.