Gosh, I've been so focused on another story, I have neglected this one! Never fear, it's back in time for a Christmas chapter ;) It's the second one of the story but seeing as Christmas is so close, I just had to do it! It's a little piece of light in the gloom.


Their hands entwine as they move slow and precise, loving and desperate at the same time. She rolls them over, his eyes looking up with awe at how beautiful she looks. Like a goddess. Every move she makes, he matches, together in sync.

And before long, "Francis, I'm going-"

"Let go, my love," he whispers into her ear and she does, shivering against him. After a while, she questions him but he chuckles, nuzzling his nose into her neck. "You'll make it up to me." It's light and cheeky and she starts pressing kisses down his chest. "Mary, I didn't mean-"

"Shh," she hushes him, planting a deep kiss on his mouth before continuing her mission. "It's Christmas."

They've more or less spent the entire first two days of their Norweigan holiday in bed, neither of them complaining. There is so much to do and they hope to fit them in within the last three days of their holiday, taking the time to thoroughly enjoy each other for now.

"God, Mary!"

Mary chuckles victoriously, melting back into the plush mattress and pillow beside him. "That didn't take much effort."

"I guess I was already nearly there," he mumbles tiredly. "Have we really spent forty-eight hours just having sex?"

She grins, resting her chin on his breastbone. "Are you complaining, monsieur?"

"Non, non," he replies, grinning. "Never."

"You do realise that this isn't your Christmas present, though?" She tells him, sitting up and retrieving a small, rectangle-shaped gift box from the bedside table. She hands it to him as he sits up, covering himself with the duvet as a wave of cold hits him. "Open it."

Francis gives her an exasperated glance, a grin growing on his face as he excitedly opens up his Christmas present from her. He's already surprised her with a handbag and pair of matching heels but her reaction to the heels made him slightly nervous because she stared at them, puzzled, for a while.

He shifts the tissue paper from sight and blinks in surprise at what lays underneath. "Mary. What is this?"

"I think you know what it is," she says cheekily. "Take it out and read it."

Shaking, his fingers clutch the item and he lifts it from the box, bringing it to his eyesight. 'Positive'. Tears spring to his eyes and he turns to her, mentally questioning if this is real.

"It's real," Mary whispers tearfully, smiling when he hugs her tightly. "I'm pregnant."

Closing his eyes, Francis takes the news in before he's crying too and they're both sobbing messes in the bed. The people next door must think they're crazy at the rate they're blubbering through their tears at their news.

"I found out just before we left for the airport," she tells him, wiping her cheeks. "I had to get Kenna to buy a gift box before she and Bash dropped us off."

"Do they know-"

"I didn't tell her what the box was for. To her, it could have been a watch or something," she cuts him off, making him chuckle as he studies the box.

"It does look wide enough for a watch," he agrees. "This is the best Christmas gift ever, thank you."

Mary's face falls a little and he sighs, noting the shift in mood. "Francis-"

"I know," he says softly, kissing her lips. "Last year, we were given the same news but you know what? This time feels different. Mary, we're having a baby, we will stay positive, we'll wait until you're fourteen weeks gone and at the end of it all, we'll have a baby."

Mary swallows hard and nods, hugging him tightly. "I'm just terrified."

"It's okay," he assures her, rubbing her back. "No matter what, I love you and I'm here for you."

Sniffling, she says, "I love you and I'm here for you too."

With a smile growing on his face, he looks down at her, into her brown orbs and asks, "Now, should we... celebrate this?" He lifts the pregnancy test back to their line of sight and she laughs, slapping his shoulder.

"I thought you were tired!"

"I've just been inspired," he says, gently placing the test on the bedside table before tackling her down onto the bed with kisses.

After their lovemaking session, they find themselves outside. They're wrapped warm with winter coats, hats, gloves and scarves and they have been treated to hot chocolate as they sit down on their blanket with their marshmallows, strawberries and chocolate dip too.

"Mary, look," Francis says gently, gesturing upwards.

Mary gasps loudly, admiring the green, blue, purple lights above them. "The Aurora Borealis..." She breathes out in awe. "It's so beautiful in real life."

Francis turns to her and smiles, a realisation dawning in him. He's always loved her but her joy and just her existence make him the happiest man in the world. They've practically been soulmates since day one, they don't need to wait like any conventional couple. They're Francis and Mary. They will always be joined in love forever.

"Will you marry me?"

Mary looks at him in shock.

...

Mary wishes their holiday was longer because before they know it, they're back in England. Her mother is still away and her brother is around so she decides that it's probably a good time as any to drop off Christmas gifts for him, Harold and her sister-in-law.

"Drive safely," Francis calls out to her when she opens the door. "I love you."

"I will and I love you too," she replies, leaving the house for her car. When she gets there, she greets her brother with a tight hug. "Merry Belated Christmas, Jim."

"Merry Belated Christmas, Mare," he replies, letting her in. "They are in the living room."

She heads into the room, greeting Jim's wife warmly before lifting Harold into her arms. He's already walking and she giggles when he hands her his toy train and presumably wants her to play with him. "Just a minute, I have to give you your presents."

Using her free hand, Harold securely on her hip, she starts handing out gifts and helps her nephew open his. Toy trucks and a set of policeman dress-up clothing for Harold, perfume and scarf for Agnes and cufflinks and a tie for Jim.

"Mary, thank you so much!" Agnes gushes. "You're wonderful. These are wonderful!"

Mary sighs in relief. "I spent two hours in Duty-Free deciding which one I should get you," she says, looking down at Harold. "Do you like your new toys, buddy? Let's try the fireman's truck first." She opens the packet and hands it over to Harold with a wide smile on her face, her lips pecking the side of the infant's head.

"You're looking a little chubbier," Jim muses knowingly and she scowls his way as Agnes gasps, mortified. "Has Francis been feeding you like a pig for slaughter?"

Agnes swats him. "James Stuart!" She turns to Mary. "You look gorgeous. Not all women can pull off looking great with a little bit of weight gain and slim. I wish I had your figure either way."

Mary chuckles. "You know Jimmy," she says, her brother scowling at the nickname. "Always starting fights."

"Don't I know it?" Agnes jokes before Harold starts calling for her. "I think he's hungry. I'll leave you two alone." She lifts Harold from Mary's hold and leaves the room.

"God, I can't keep anything a secret from you, can I?" Mary tells her brother.

"How far along?"

"About eleven weeks," she reveals happily. "We're waiting three more weeks because..."

He nods in understanding. "I'm happy for you. I'd say avoid Mother dearest for those three weeks otherwise the whole Church community will know."

Mary laughs and nods, being pulled up for a hug. "Yeah, that was my plan."

"This one will be something special," Jim tells her softly. "Your rainbow baby."

"You really think so?" Mary asks. "Francis and I are being cautious. We're just taking it one day at a time."

"Good," Jim says. "I'm so happy for you regardless."

Mary swallows hard and digs into her pocket, pulling a ring out and slipping it on. She shows her brother the ring and he laughs in joy, kissing her forehead. "We're getting married too..."

Suddenly, he's overwhelmed with emotion and bites his knuckle to stop any tears. "Oh, God-"

"Jim!" Mary cries out, hugging him once more. "It's okay." She laughs.

"My baby sister's getting married and she's pregnant. I'm allowed to be emotional, okay?!"

"Okay!" She giggles.

"Congratulations, Mary," he says, holding her tightly. "Dad would have been so proud but you know-"

"Three weeks avoiding Mum, I know," she says, chuckling. "I wanted you to know first to ask you if..." She pulls away from him. "You'll walk me down?"

Jim swallows hard. "You know I will," he says tearfully. "I've been waiting to hear that since Dad died. You're all grown up, Mare-Bear. You're getting your fairytale ending."

Mary smiles, blushing. "I wouldn't have got there without you and most of all, the man himself. Francis, he's the best thing in my life and I just wish if we could go back in time, I'd be brave enough to be his sooner. We're not late or anything, we have all the time in the world but more time would be nice too."

"I get what you mean," Jim says, turning in the direction of his wife and son in the kitchen. "Took me a good ten years to ask her to marry me when we finished uni. But everyone works on their own clocks. You just have to make every single second count."

Mary beams fondly, nodding. "Yeah."


Had you all waiting a little bit to find out whether she said yes or no, did I? I'm so happy to finally give them a successful pregnancy, not really a spoiler because I don't want to hurt my babies too much! They have been through too much already with crazy exes and being in love but not together for years and now their miscarriage but now, they will have their baby and I'm so excited to reveal to you all, in due time, their child.