Okay guys, this is the last chapter. I'm sorry it took me so long to update it, so I've worked two days straight just to get the last few chapters completed. Thanks for staying with me and Em…thank you xxx

…

Chapter 17

…

It was Christmas morning, Connie was down stairs in the kitchen, already dressed when Em came down.

"Hey, I saw the bed empty..it's 7am. Even Grace is still sleeping and you're up and dressed."

"Trust me, she won't be sleeping for long."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm great, it's Christmas morning, no work, just time with the people I love, I couldn't be happier."

"Hey, I thought you were going to tell her about boarding school the other day."

"I was but then I remembered that I bought her a new rucksack, stationary and obviously I had to purchase the new uniform. I thought it would be a nice surprise."

"Yeah, you're right. It's better that you didn't tell her, I can't wait to see her face."

"I know, me either."

"Oh I wish mum and Ellie could be here."

Connie went quiet, taking a drink of her coffee before her arm came around Em's shoulder.

"Okay listen, there's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?"

"I didn't go out the other day to get your present."

"Oh." she said disappointed.

"Don't worry, I bought it a few weeks back. No the reason I went out was to meet your mother."

"You met up with mum?"

"I wanted to try and smooth things over with her?"

"And how did that go."

"Well I'm not sure, she seemed to listen to what I was saying, anyway I invited her and Ellie to share Christmas with us, I told her Amanda would be here as well."

"And?"

"She never actually gave an answer, I just told her that we start Christmas at 9am and if she came well, they'd be very welcome."

Em leaned up and kissed Connie before she hugged the older woman.

"You didn't have to do that."

"They're your family, and you want them here…I want them here. I just hope she comes."

"Me too…wait, did you say 9am?"

"Yes why?"

"Oh my god, I need to shower, get my hair done, find my Christmas outfit, get Amanda up and…."

"MUM."

"And Grace is up."

"You go get ready and I'll see to Grace and I'll get Amanda up."

"Thank you, I love you."

"Love you too darling."

Em rushed off back up the stairs and Connie finished off her coffee and ran a hand through her hair.

"Right, let's get Christmas started then."

…

Jennifer sat for hours in the early morning, thinking about everything Connie had said to her. She knew Connie made Em happy and she knew she's not reacted as best she could. She looked around her living room, so quiet without her eldest in the house, how much Ellie wanted to spend Christmas with her sister. Jennifer took a long breath before getting to her feet and coming to stand at the bottom of the stairs.

"ELLIE, GET DRESSED. WE'RE GOING TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH EM AND CONNIE."

She smiled to herself when she heard her youngest scream at the top of her lungs before the floor started rumbling when she ran back and forth in her bedroom, as she got ready for the day

…

Grace was down in record time, dressed in her favourite blue Christmas dress, Amanda wore a pair of black trouser and a red jumper, her hair tied back in a plait. They all sat waiting for Em to come down the stairs, hearing her running back and forth, yelling about nothing looks right.

"I might go up and check she's okay?" Amanda smiled.

"Thank you, tell her to hurry up. Grace is dying here."

"Yeah I am." She laughed.

"Back in a minute."

Amanda made her way up towards the bedroom, seeing Em standing in front of the mirror, getting infuriated.

"Em what's up?"

"Why does nothing look right."

"What are you talking about, you look great."

"Really."

Em wore a pair of black jeans and her sparkling green wrap around top.

"You really think I look okay."

"You look gorgeous."

"What if mum doesn't come?"

"Then, you know for sure how she really feels, you can't force her to change her opinions."

"I love Connie and I love mum and Ellie…this is killing me."

"Em sweetie I…"

Em's head shot up when she heard the doorbell.

"Oh my god, do you think that's them?"

"It's nearly 9am."

"Shit, okay…I really look okay."

"Perfect, come on. Grace is getting impatient."

"Okay, let's go."

…

Connie was just making her way to the door when Em and Amanda came rushing down the stairs, Connie smiling when she saw Em.

"Darling you look beautiful."

"You don't look so bad yourself." She grinned before kissing Connie.

"Yeah, I'm gonna…sit with Grace." Amanda smiled before rushing off.

Grace looked up as Amanda came over to join her.

"They kissing again?"

"Do they ever stop."

"No." She laughed.

Connie took tight hold of Em's hand, the younger woman looking up at her.

"You ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

They walked towards the door, Connie allowing Em to open it as they came face to face with Jennifer and Ellie.

"Em." Ellie flung herself at her sister, Em tightening her hold on her.

"Hey you, it's so good to see you, I've missed you so much."

"I missed you too."

"Jennifer." Connie smiled.

"Merry Christmas Connie."

Connie moved forward and hugged Jennifer, feeling her tense for a second but quickly relaxed.

"Come on through Ellie, I'll introduce you to my daughter Grace."

Ellie took hold of Connie's hand and walked away, leaving Em and her mum alone.

"I didn't think you'd come?" Em said.

"How could I not, oh honey I'm sorry for the way I've behaved. It's not that I didn't want you to be happy, it was just a shock, firstly that you were with a woman and secondly someone of Connie's age."

"I love her mum."

"I know you do, Connie and I had a very good chat the other day and she's made me realise how foolish I've been, Ellie's been miserable without you, so have I. If you're happy then that's all that matters."

"So, I have your blessing?"

"You have my blessing."

"I love you mum."

"I love you too sweetheart, so come on then…let's get Christmas started shall we."

Em smiled as she helped her mum in with the presents as they made their way to join the others.

…

Dylan came back to the boat after taking Dervla out for a walk, Lofty was busy at the kitchen counter, cutting up veg and putting the chicken in the oven.

"Oh hey, you're back." The younger man smiled.

"The snow was getting heavy again."

"Perfect for Christmas day then."

"Quite, do you need a hand."

"No, I don't think so. Chicken's in the oven, veg is boiling, potatoes are coming along nicely and the trifle is in your fridge, I think we're set."

"You didn't have to do all of this, I mean I'm glad you did because I hate cooking but…"

"Is that your way of saying thank you then?"

Lofty had the stupidest grin on his face as he leaned slightly closer to Dylan, causing a strange look from Dylan.

"I guess it's…yes it is."

"Well, you're welcome. Drink?"

"Sure, what did you bring?"

"Beer, a bottle of wine, whiskey…take your pick?"

"Probably a beer."

Lofty went in to the fridge and brought out two beers and passed one to Dylan.

"Why don't we go and sit on the desk for a bit." He said.

"Didn't you hear me before, it's snowing."

"So, live a little."

Dylan rolled his eyes as he followed Lofty out on to the deck, Lofty leaned against the railing, Dylan joining him.

"Oh I almost forgot."

Lofty rushed back in before coming back with a package in his hand and passed it to Dylan.

"What's this?"

"Your Christmas present."

"Oh…this is embarrassing, Ben I didn't get you anything."

"It's okay…we didn't mention presents anyway, I just thought I would, open it?"

Dylan did as he asked, opening his present to see a navy scarf and a window sticker, which read "My Boat, My Rules". Lofty watched him closely as he smiled at his gift.

"You like it then?"

"I do thank you Ben."

"Here…let me."

Ben put the sticker inside the door of the boat before taking the scarf, Dylan allowing him to place it around his neck. Their faces were close, Dylan feeling Ben's hot breath on his face as he looked in to the younger man's eyes.

"It looks really good on you." Lofty whispered.

"It feels..warm."

Dylan couldn't think of anything else to say as he looked in to Lofty's eyes, he could feel the younger man leaning in closer but he didn't attempt to push him away. He tensed for a second when Lofty's lips touched his, feeling Lofty's hand coming to the side of his face as he deepened the kiss but soon relaxed as he responded to the kiss. When Lofty pulled back, Dylan slowly opened his eyes to see the younger man smiling back at him.

"Well that was nice." Lofty said.

"Yes, it was. Ben I…"

"It's okay, if this isn't what you want then it's really okay. I just had to take a shot because I've kinda liked you since I met you, I just didn't want to scare you off."

"You haven't, it's just a surprise."

"So…what do we do now."

"I'm not sure."

The egg timer Lofty was using for the chicken started buzzing, causing him to look behind him.

"I guess we eat." Dylan said.

"Dylan I…"

Dylan pressed another kiss to Lofty's lips before he pulled back.

"I like you too Ben…maybe just take it one day at a time."

"Fine with me, come on…let's eat."

…

Connie's living room looked like a bomb had hit it by the evening, toys and wrapping everywhere. Connie had the new silk scarf Em had bought for her around her neck and Em had on the gold earrings Connie had bought for her.

"Mum, thanks for my new phone…I love it." Em smiled.

"You're welcome, I know you needed one."

"Jennifer thank you for the flowers, they're beautiful."

"I remember Em saying they were your favourite, you didn't need to get me anything though."

"We;re family…oh sorry I…"

"No, you're okay…we are now."

Em couldn't help the smile on her face, at long last every thing was working out.

"I think we should give Grace her last three presents now." Em said.

"I've got more presents?" The young girl beamed.

"Give me a moment darling."

Connie went out of the room for a moment before returning with the gift bag and passing it to her daughter.

"Leave the big one until last."

Grace dug in to the bag, passing one to Ellie to open for her. As the two girls unwrapped the presents, Grace gave a curious look as she inspected the new rucksack and stationary set that Ellie had opened.

"Mum I don't understand?"

"Open the last one."

Grace did as she was told, tearing apart the wrapping paper, her eyes going wide when she saw the school uniform. Grace's head shot up when she finally realised what was happening.

"You mean it mum."

"I do, it's all been arranged and I talked it over with your father and we both agreed you can move to the new school to be with Aimee."

"Oh my god, when."

"After the Christmas holidays."

"Oh mum, thank you. Thank you…thank you."

"You're welcome my darling." Connie smiled as she hugged her daughter.

Amanda came through from the kitchen to inform everyone that dinner was ready. The two young girls rushed through, Em's mum stopping.

"Connie, Em…thank you for inviting us today. It's been wonderful."

"As Connie said, we're all family now. I love you mum."

"Love you too darling."

As Jennifer went in to the kitchen, Em pulled Connie back.

"What is it."

"Nothing, I just wanted a minute to say thank you."

"What for?"

"This, today. What you did, bringing mum and Ellie here. You really made my Christmas, I'll never be able to thank you enough."

"You don't have to thank me love, I love you."

Em leaned in, kissing Connie before she pulled back smiling at her.

"I love you too, I'm so glad I hurt my arm that day…because I met the best thing in my life."

"Come on, I'm starving."

Connie wrapped her arm around Em, as they made their way in to the kitchen to celebrate their first Christmas…as a family.

…

-Fin