Sorry for the delay in uploads, I've been so busy! I've written a few ahead now so will get some more uploaded over the next few days. I hope I haven't lost any readers because of it! :) xx

Christmas Day

December 25th, 1920

"Mummy! Daddy!" Charlie grinned as he ran in to Rose and Henry's room and began jumping on their bed. "Can we go and see if Santa has been?!" He asked. Rose groaned as she stretched. "What time is it?" She asked Henry who was beginning to wake up. "Half 5" he replied. "It's too early to go downstairs yet buddy. Try and go back to sleep" "but I want to see if he's been!" Charlie pleaded. "He won't have been yet, it's too early. Emilia and Alfie aren't awake yet. Come on, go back to sleep" Henry said as he pulled him down to the bed in between him and Rose "OKKKK" Charlie groaned, making Rose and Henry chuckle a little. Rose leant over and kissed his head before stroking his cheek "good boy" she said quietly before closing her eyes and falling back to sleep quickly.

—

7.30am

"Mummy" Emilia said as she entered Rose's room and shook her gently, not noticing that Charlie was laid awake in between her and Henry. "Hey" Rose yawned. "Emilia is awake! Now can we go downstairs?!" Charlie grinned, getting a nod back. "Yes, wake your Dad up whilst I go and get Alfie" Rose said as she climbed out of bed. "Daddy! Daddy!" Charlie shook Henry. "Good morning" Henry said as he sat up and kissed Charlie and Emilia's heads. "Mummy has gone to get Alfie and then she said we can go down" Charlie grinned, making Henry chuckle "OK, well why don't you both go and get your dressing gowns, it'll be cold downstairs" he said as he climbed out of bed and did the same.

"Right, let's go down" Rose chuckled as she walked on to the landing holding Alfie as Charlie waited at the top of the stairs. "YAY!" He grinned and ran down, followed by Rose, Henry and Emilia. "Emilia! He's been! Santa has been!" He shouted excitedly. "Woooow!" Emilia said surprised as she walked in to the living room, shocked by the amount of presents under the tree. "Go on then! Get opening them!" Henry smiled as he sat on the sofa and began to watch the 2 of them before Rose sat on the sofa with Alfie, helping him open some presents too.

"What time are your parents coming round?" Rose asked, turning her attention to Henry. "I've told them around half 1, I'll have dinner ready for 3" he smiled. "Thank you" Rose smiled back. "What time did you tell Jack?" He asked "2" Rose replied, but was distracted by Charlie gasping at one of the presents he had opened, making her and Henry laugh.

—

1.25pm

"You don't have to help, you know. Go and relax if you want" Henry smiled at Rose as she peeled the potato's to help prepare dinner. "I don't mind. You're doing everything else" she smiled back, interrupted by a knock at the door. "That'll be your parents, go and answer it" Rose smiled at him as he left the room, but Emilia and Charlie had gotten to the front door first.

"Grandma! Grandad!" Emilia grinned as she and Charlie threw themselves in to their arms. "Hello!" They replied with a grin. "Hi Mum, hi Dad" Henry smiled and hugged them as Emilia and Charlie stepped away before Rose walked in to the hallway. "Betty! Theodore! It's so nice to see you" she smiled and kissed their cheeks. "Come on in" she said and stepped aside. "Thank you" Betty and Theodore replied with a smile. "Come and see what Father Christmas brought us!" Charlie said as he dragged the two of them in to the living room, making them laugh. "You go with them, I'll turn the heat on the stove down then come in" Rose said as she rubbed Henry's arm and walked back to the kitchen.

"So, did Santa bring you lots of lovely presents?" Betty smiled at Emilia and Charlie as Henry passed Alfie over to her. "Yes!" Charlie grinned. "You've been very lucky" Henry said as Rose walked in with a tray of mugs with cups of tea on. "Thank you" Theodore smiled at her. "You're welcome" Rose smiled in response as she sat down.

"Mummy, when is Jack coming?" Emilia asked. "He should be here soon darling" Rose smiled at her awkwardly. "Oh yes, we've heard about Jack" Betty raised an eyebrow at Rose, who looked back at her, unsure what to say. "How does he feel about your marriage with Henry?" Betty asked "Mum, don't do this. I've already told you" Henry said quietly "he's fine about it… why wouldn't he be?" Rose asked, playing dumb. "Because he's Emilia's real Father, and you have a new family now" "Mother!" Henry said again. "Shall we go in to the kitchen?" Theodore suggested, noticing Emilia listening. "Yes" Rose nodded as she left the room, followed by Henry, Theodore and Betty, who still had hold of Alfie. "Right, as I said to you both. There is to be no discussing Jack in front of the kids, especially not Emilia. As Rose has said previously, this is about no one but her. Jack has proved himself to be a decent man and a good Father, and if you can't respect that, then I ask that you leave" Henry said firmly. "Do not speak to me like that! I am your Mother!" Betty snapped. "Well start acting like it! Respect mine and Rose's wishes!" Henry replied, seeing Rose stood there surprised by his defensiveness before being interrupted by a knock at the door. "That'll be Jack… if you can't behave like a grown up then you can leave and head back to your hotel. If you are prepared to be respectful then you are more than welcome to stay for dinner" he said as he left the room, followed by Rose.

"Hi" Rose smiled at Jack as she let him inside. "Hi" Jack smiled back at her before smiling at Henry and shaking his hand. "Emilia is in the living room, go through if you'd like" Rose said. "Thank you" Jack replied as he headed in to the living room, followed by Rose as Henry went in to the kitchen again.

"Hello you two!" Jack smiled at Emilia and Charlie. "Hi!" Emilia grinned and stood up to hug him. "Hi Jack" Charlie smiled before turning his attention back to his train track. "I've got you both a present… I've got Alfie one too, where is he?" Jack frowned confused. "In the kitchen with Henry's parents… that was kind of you" Rose smiled, referring to the presents that Jack had passed over to the children "I wanted to" Jack smiled "I've got Emilia a few more things but didn't want to bring more round for her than Charlie, I was going to give her them tonight if she's still OK to come round?" He asked quietly "of course" Rose nodded but was interrupted by Emilia's gasps

"WOW! Thank you!" she grinned as she opened her art set, before hugging Jack, followed by Charlie doing the same who had received a bag of building blocks. "You're welcome" Jack smiled and hugged them both back. "Would you like a drink?" Rose offered as she stood up to leave the room. "I'll come with you. I should meet Henry's parents" Jack smiled "well I should warn you that his Mother isn't in the best of moods. She isn't thrilled that you're joining us for dinner" Rose rolled her eyes "oh… I can leave if you'd like?" Jack offered, trying to hide his disappointment "absolutely not! She can be civil, or she can leave. Henry has said the same- we're all in this for Emilia, no one else" Rose said as she headed to the kitchen.

Henry was stood at the stove, mixing the veg as Betty was sat at the table near Theodore as he held Alfie, chatting to him.

"Betty, Theodore, this is Jack" Rose said awkwardly. Theodore stood up and held his hand out to Jack "it's nice to meet you" he smiled. Whilst Theodore had been worried that Jack being around would affect Henry's relationship with Emilia, he had very much warmed up to the idea once he realised that wasn't the case. "Hello" Betty replied bluntly, hardly looking at Jack, who smiled at her awkwardly, making Rose and Henry uncomfortable as they shared glances.

—

Once the 7 of them had eaten dinner, most of it in an uncomfortable silence with the only words being spoken were Betty's passive aggressive comments to Jack, who somehow remained kind and patient, they retired to the sitting room for a while, so Emilia, Charlie and Alfie could play with their new toys, Charlie and Emilia helping Alfie…