When Strike and Robin reentered the house, it was to find the Ellacott family huddled around the little kitchen table in an attitude suggestive of collusion. All talk ceased as though by commandment, and, as the door clicked closed behind them, four pairs of reticent eyes turned to face them.

"Merry Christmas" said Robin, offering a weak smile, as she looked at all of them and yet none of them simultaneously. Dipping her head, she moved across the room to continue preparing the veg as though she had not walked in on a conversation that both featured and excluded her. With a brief nod and quirk of the lip to all of them, Strike diverted to the bathroom. Although he did not care if they, or indeed anyone, knew about their newfound understanding, he dreaded the uncomfortable scenes that would inevitably come because of it. His instinct was telling him that any secret they had intended to keep this Christmas was about to find its way out into the open- regardless of how little they might want to share it.

After relieving his taut bladder and washing his hands, Strike brushed his teeth and did his best to straighten his tightly curled hair- an exercise in futility. As he examined himself, he noticed the blue smudges under his eyes, a souvenir of last night's sleeplessness. He let out a long breath he didn't know that he was holding. The irony was not lost on him that he had come willingly into this situation, for this was exactly the type of circumstance that had, since leaving Charlotte, kept him single. He did not want to needlessly add more messy family dynamics to his already complicated life, and yet here he was, doing exactly that. He craved simplicity and ease in everything but his working life. Now however, as he was most certainly about to bear witness to unpleasant family scenes, he found that his primary concern was not for his own ease,but rather for Robin's peace of mind. Against his character, he also acknowledged a not so small part of him that yearned for the approval of Robin's family. The most noble reason for this was that he knew it would be best for Robin, but the selfish one was that he knew that his life would be easier if they were allies and not at odds.

With the newfound realization that he must make some kind of effort, nerves, not dissimilar to the ones he had felt before a boxing match, prickled across his skin, honing his senses and priming him for an action, that despite awakening his sympathetic nervous system, would likely not involve hitting anyone.

Christmas carols, coming from the small radio on the kitchen counter, filled the silence as Robin snatched up a peeler and began expelling some of her tension on a potato. As she attacked the tuber with unnecessary violence, her family looked to one another with concern. After a few minutes, at last, Linda cleared her throat tentatively and said,

"Robin-are you alright?"

"I'm Fine," she said without turning her head.

"Well you seem fine," said Martin with a glib smile.

Just then Strike entered the room, pausing at the periphery to listen.
Linda spared him a glance before returning her probing eyes to Robin's back.

"Matt's dad called us last night." said Linda as a delicate flush began to creep up Robin's neck, "He said Matt went to A&E."

Neither Robin nor Strike were inclined to inquire further.

"He was assaulted, apparently." Linda finished with a frown of disbelief.

Strike covered his snort of laughter with a cough.

"He was furious." said Michael with a serious look that was spoiled slightly by the twinkle in his eye, "said some truly dreadful things about our family."

"Oh, of course he did!" said Robin, swiveling to face her tribunal, peeler held at the ready. "Of course….but did he mention that Matt was pissed, and followed us out of the pub?"

"How did he end up in A & E?" said Martin looking impressed.

"He's a bitter twat who doesn't know when to walk away." supplied Strike shrugging.

"Did you hit him then?" Said Jonathan, eyeing Strike with an eager smile.

Closing his eyes, Strike let a slow, satisfied smile slide across his face as he shook his head in denial. In unison, the Ellacott Brothers turned to look at Robin, expressions incredulous.

"What?" Said Robin Flushing defensively.

"You broke his bloody nose!" said Linda aghast, "Gregory was threatening us with his solicitor! You deviated Matt's septum!"

"Brilliant." Said Jonathan, nodding his approval.

"No, it's not!" said Linda sourly, " We've already signed over enough money to Gregory Cunliffe. I'm not eager to give him more!"

"I'm sure any solicitor would be happy to have his money- still doesn't mean he's got a case." Strike said easily, "the law doesn't usually side with pissed and angry ex-husbands."

Linda ignored this as she frowned slightly, examined Robin critically,

"You are alright, aren't you?"

"I'm ok." Robin replied, sighing, "I just hate that we're still talking about Matt. I thought divorcing him meant that I don't have to do this anymore."

"Why was he so upset anyway?" said Michael, looking from his daughter to Strike curiously.

"I think I know why-" said Martin with a smug little smile, as he pulled out his phone swiping the screen to reveal an image which he tilted towards his parents. To Robin's horror, her father blushed slightly glancing hastily at her mother whose eyebrows slowly raised as she mouthed a silent 'oh'.

"What is it?" said Robin, who knew, with dread, exactly what it was.

Martin flipped the screen towards her to reveal a text with the words. 'Is that the detective?' and an attached image of Robin, arms wrapped securely around Strike, who stooped to kiss her deeply with a look of intense concentration on his face.

Strike moved over to peer over Robin's shoulder at the screen, eyebrows meeting with interest. She looked over her shoulder at her partner, clearly at a loss.

A few long moments passed before Michael Cleared his throat, and Linda Crossed her arms, eyeing them both critically.

"I thought you told me you weren't seeing anyone."

"I'm not!. I mean… I wasn't- It was just…well … that was the first time we…" Robin sputtered into silence, then threw her hands up in the air in exasperation, "Oh sod this!"

Linda tilted her head, waiting.

"Look- not that it's anyone's business," Said Robin, caving to her Mother at last, "we'd never kissed before that. We're not hiding a relationship, it was just…..there was mistletoe." she explained helplessly.

Strike stayed silent, judging it best not to insert himself into a conversation between mother and daughter. Nevertheless, he felt the weight of all their eyes on him as he stood beside Robin, and at once he began to feel large and ungainly.

"Well," sighed Linda "I've no doubt seeing you two kissing sent him right over the edge."

"Matt didn't really hide the fact that he didn't like your job," supplied Michael, "But it was obvious that it was more to do with Strike than with the actual job-I'm sure seeing two…. You know…was difficult for him." Michael couldn't seem to bring himself to say 'Kissing'.

"Is Cormoran my brother now?" Injected Martin gleefully.

"Martin!" Shouted Robin and Linda together.

"Can you please be serious for once?" Said Linda, trying ineffectually to marshal her son.

Strike chuckled softly, always more comfortable with banter.

"Much as Matthew may hate it, no one can say it's a surprise that you're..uhh…involved now." Acknowledged Linda, looking between Robin and Strike.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Bristled Robin, "Why is everyone in such a bloody hurry to say I'm faithless?"

Once again, Strike found himself inwardly appreciating how the yorkshire accent strengthened when she swore.

"You've always gotten on so well" Said Linda Carefully, "and you've been through so much together."

"Calm down." Said Jonathon, "None of us think you cheated on Matt."

"Except that no one in Masham is surprised that I was seen kissing my partner." Said Robin irritably.

"And I'm sure Matthew has been rushing to defend your honor." Muttered Strike.

"Exactly." Said Robin, "Me cheating would absolve him of his cheating. He'd love to have people think I was the problem."

"Too bad it didn't fucking happen that way." Growled strike "The truth is less convenient."

"I think he's been so busy insinuating that you were with Cormoran all these years that he didn't even realize how devastating that it might actually be for him if it were true" Said Linda, wisely, "I think he did care for you despite everything that happened."

Robin scoffed, "Shagging Sarah was a strange way to show it."

"I never said he was in the right," placated Linda, "he treated you terribly- but I think deep down he knows he messed it up."

"Very deep down." Said Jonathan rolling his eyes, "to tell the truth though, I'm not sorry you've moved on. Matt was a useless prat." Martin nodded his emphatic agreement.

"No great loss," said Martin, "do you know how bloody hard it was to keep a conversation going with him? He only talked about his own bloody self. At least Cormoran doesn't prattle on about his work prospects."

"Well, I could…" said Strike with a sideways smile, "If you're missing that."

"Your work prospects are probably more interesting anyway," said Jonathan shrugging.

Glancing at the clock, Michael yelped, "Shit- I've got to get the Turkey started."

Raising his mug to the room at large, Martin raised a toast,

"To Robin's pending assault charge and to climbing up a few rungs in the relationship ladder," he said gayly.

"I'll drink to that." said strike laughing, snatching up his sheep mug and raising it.

"Jesus Christ- " said Robin shaking her head and letting it fall into her hands,, "Well Merry bloody Christmas, anyway."

Bracingly Strike slung his large bear arm around her shoulder as he pulled her into a sideways hug, looking down on her and placing a kiss on the top of her head with a crinkled smile.

Robin felt a thrill of pleasure through her embarrassment at the casual affection that Strike gave her. True to his word, he apparently had no concern for who knew about the shift in their relationship. Even this small token felt immense to her as It was a level of public affection that she and Matt had only achieved after years of intimacy. Robin looked up at him, returning his smile with unfeigned pleasure. Suddenly a feeling of contentment washed over her as, looking around at each smiling face, she realized that these were the people whom she loved more than any other. Embarrassment was forgotten, replaced with gratitude and love for them all. All would be well.