"Merry Christmas!"

Festivities have already begun in the Panayiotou household; Melanie and Yioda are working together to ensure the table is set properly for the Christmas dinner that the family will share later, while Martin — Melanie's partner — and Tee organise the gifts into piles ready for each respective family member to claim. George's parents are hard at work, cooking the food in the warm kitchen; steam floats through the room, the heat causing sweat to accumulate on their foreheads. George and Stephanie are sitting on the sofa in the living room; they went for their first midwife appointment not long ago, in which they received the sweetest baby scan images which they are proudly showing to the family.

The only thing missing, George realises, is the presence of Levi. Of course, it wouldn't seem plausible for him to have made an appearance at the celebrations purely because all of George's family — aside from Mel — are of the impression he is just a friend. Christmas in the Panayiotou household is strictly family only; so George, of course, is feeling the absence significantly, on what should be their first Christmas together. He tries to take his mind away from the subject; focusing his attention on the excitement surrounding his unborn baby. As each day passes, he feels more uncertain about his future. Of course, he wants to announce his love for Levi to the entire world and move to Goring to be with him. However, with the arrival of his child in the upcoming months, his joy has started to overrule his senses; and thus, he has unintentionally started to form an emotional connection — something he didn't want to do. He is trying his hardest to prevent it, but on a day which celebrates love and family, it's difficult. His family as a whole (along with Andrew), are the only hinderances he has towards changing his life; for he realises just how deeply he'll miss them when he moves away.

"Come on guys; let's open some presents," Melanie encourages, as she enters the living room with Yioda. "Dinner'll be ready soon."

"Oooh, yes," Stephanie grins enthusiastically, bending down to grab a gift from the floor marked with her name; she unwraps it messily, to reveal some sweet cream-coloured baby-grows. "Oh George! Look how adorable these are!"

George's eyes admittedly light up at the sight of such tiny items of clothing; he places a protective hand against the small of his girlfriend's back, as he admires the gift with her. "How sweet are they?" he asks rhetorically. "Thank you ... " He pauses to check the tag, to determine who they're from. "Thank you Mel, and Martin."

"They're from Tee as well," Melanie teases. "She's very excited about having a little cousin."

"Bless her. It is nice to see her running around again," George comments, in reference to the incident the little girl had a couple weeks prior. "I didn't like seeing her in so much pain before."

"But that just shows how good of a dad you're going to be, mate," Martin chimes in. "If you're feeling that amount of empathy for a child that isn't yours, just think how much you'll have for your own."

"I suppose that's true," George evaluates briefly, before lifting another gift bag from the ground to open. He checks the tag, finding this one is from Yioda. Inside, he finds a bottle of wine for himself, and a baby sipping cup; as a result, he can't help but chuckle. "I don't think I'll be letting my child drink wine, but I appreciate the gesture Yioda."

"You silly mare," she snaps back playfully. "Keep the wine for yourself and then baby can be your drinking partner."

Stephanie laughs at this notion. "Well, he won't be able to go out with Andrew or Levi anymore if he's living the dad life."

The sound of his lover's name reminds him of exactly what he's trying to forget; he misses Levi deeply today, because he knows their first Christmas is a special moment he can't get back. He does his best to divert the subject in a better direction. "Well, you never know what will happen in the future. Just remember though, you won't be able to go out with your girls either if that's the case."

Martin cackles at George's quick response. "He's got you there, Steph."

"Alright, fine." Stephanie smiles, shaking her head in amusement. "Maybe we can both go out every so often, while the other looks after baby."

"See, that sounds more reasonable," George concludes, amused. "Anyway, more presents anyone?"

"Of course," Melanie grins, grabbing a gift to open for herself.

• • •

"Are you alright, Stephanie? You look a little pale, sweetheart." Lesley, George's mother, questions the young lady considerately at the dinner table. "Do you need a drink of water?"

"Just morning sickness," Stephanie replies weakly. "I think I just need a minute or two, to let my stomach settle."

"Take all the time you need to," Kyriacos, George's father (who typically goes by the name Jack for ease), invites kindly.

George silently observes Stephanie, not touching his food to allow his full attention to be on her. When she abruptly leaves the table, he is startled slightly; but he leaps up to follow her to the bathroom, where she is headed because her sickness is becoming too much for her. She falls to her knees beside the toilet; her head hangs over the bowl as she throws up. George comes up behind her, holding back her hair to ensure nothing gets in it; he gently rubs at her back to soothe her.

"You're alright, babe," he mutters softly, as not to frighten her when she's already fragile. "I've got you."

She brings her head back up, tears in her eyes from the intensity of her retching. "I can't wait for this trimester to be over with. I want to feel human again."

"I know. Did something trigger the sickness, or was it just out-of-the-blue?"

"I can't lie to you, George ... it was the smell of the food at the table. It was awful." She lowers her head, embarrassed at her reaction to something so trivial.

"Awful?" George repeats, more for his own comprehension than anything else. "What do you mean, awful?"

"I couldn't even be in the room without feeling sick, George. There was no way I could have even taken a bite of what they made." Stephanie frowns, as she realises George's expression has become one of confusion.

"That's a little unfair, isn't it Steph? My parents quite literally run a restaurant; and a fantastic one at that. How can they have made food that you can't stomach?" he quizzes, unable to process the words he is being told.

"Because I've got morning sickness George," Stephanie reminds him. "Did you forget that part?"

"You're trying to tell me that you're blaming your unfair opinions on morning sickness?"

"It is morning sickness—"

"I don't really appreciate you talking about my parents' work like that, Steph. They've put a lot of effort in to make everyone happy today — don't you realise that?"

"Of course I realise that, George. You're being really strange about thi—"

"Don't," he interrupts, holding up a hand as a visual aid to stop her saying another word. "I know the sickness is horrible to deal with; but if you can't appreciate how much my family has done to try and give you a nice day without saying something rude about it, we can go home if you like."

"Go home? George, I think you're—"

"In fact, forget that. I'll go home by myself. I'm not going to sit here listening to you talking negatively about the people I care for the most." He leans in to give her cheek a brief, half-hearted kiss as not to cause more tension; then he stands himself up from the bathroom floor. "Get somebody from downstairs to bring you home when you're ready. I'm not going to listen to how unfair you're being."

"But you're the one being—" Before she can finish her sentence, he has left the room. "Unfair ... "

George makes his way down the stairs alone; as he enters the dining room, his family all look in his direction almost simultaneously.

"Is she alright?" Melanie asks.

"She'll be fine," George answers bluntly. "I'm sorry, but I have to go."

"What do you mean 'go'?" Lesley interrogates, disappointment evident in her tone. "But dinner isn't even over yet, Gogos."

"Just got a lot going on today. I'm sorry to put a downer on the mood. Enjoy the day without me, please." George reaches over to give his dear mother a kiss on the cheek; before rubbing his father's shoulder affectionately. "Merry Christmas to all of you though. I love you all."

"Love you Uncle Yoggie," Tee calls sweetly, just before he heads out the door.

"I love you too, sweetheart." He rotates his body back around and bends down to face the little girl, inviting her in for a hug in farewell; so she leaps into his arms. He stands up, with her tiny body still in his embrace; with a brief squeeze, he sets her down carefully. "Have the best-est Christmas ever, okay? I want to hear all about it when I see you next time. Promise?" Tee nods, offering him her pinky finger so that she can provide a legitimate foundation for her promise; George intertwines his little finger with hers, giving her a soft smile. "Good girl. See you soon, okay?" He ruffles her hair playfully, before grabbing his jacket and heading out the door with no more words spoken.

The walk back home is short; he keeps his mind occupied with his never-ending sequence of thoughts. He eventually arrives, bringing out his keys to unlock the front door. He enters the house, already knowing how he will spend the remainder of his day. With one smooth action, he takes his car keys from the hook they are normally perched on; he heads back out the house to his car, ducking his head down as he gets in the driver side. The chilliness of the air bites at George's nose, as he reverses the vehicle out from the driveway.

• • •

With a sharp knock to the door, George stands back in anticipation of an answer. His nerves have gotten the better of him, for no real reason; he rubs his hands together in an attempt to fend off some of the cold his fingers are feeling. He experiences a rush of relief when he hears the sound of the door being unlocked from the inside of the house; the door opens to reveal a very merry-looking Levi, whose expression quickly changes to one of confusion tinged with joy.

"What the heck are you doing here?" he asks, a grin forming largely across his face.

"Merry Christmas, my darling," George answers irrelevantly, moving in to give his lover a hug. "I just had to see you today."

"Well, come on in." Levi opens the door wider, to allow George to enter the house. "Mum, we have another guest!"

"Who's that?" Penny calls from the living room.

"Come and find out, you lazy bugger," George shouts back playfully, knowing that Penny will appreciate the sense of humour he has.

"I recognise that wonderful voice from anywhere," she gasps, popping her head around the doorway to see the young man. "Hello, sweetheart! Merry Christmas." Her entire body emerges from behind the door, to give George a hug in greeting. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"

"Things were rough at home," George divulges. "I argued with Stephanie because she made some rude comments about my family's cooking. I overreacted, but I was already feeling horrible, because I felt wrong being there when you're here, Levi. It's our first Christmas together. I felt terrible being away from you."

"You soppy git," Levi teases. "How is Stephanie doing with baby and all that?"

"She was actually suffering with the morning sickness before I left," George admits. "I do feel guilty for leaving her. But I've just had so much on my mind."

"It sounds as if you need a drink," Penny sighs, pouring him a glass. "You're more than welcome to stay the night too, if you would like to."

"Oh, no — I'll have to dare to show my face before the day is out. I've got some apologising to do once I'm home." George frowns a little, taking the glass from Penny and sipping gently. "I won't drink too much if I'm driving. Luckily, I know my limits."

"Yeah; I don't want to be driving you back home at three in the morning," Levi chuckles. "But just in case, I'll hold off on the bevvies for now."

• • •

"So, did you get me anything for Christmas then?" George asks Levi in jest.

"Of course I did. I just didn't expect to give you it today," Levi admits. "I wouldn't get too excited though. I'm more of a sentimental guy, than a materialistic guy, you know."

"I like soppy stuff, if it's the right person," George reassures him. "So come on — hit me with it."

"Alright, alright." Levi hands George a small box, pulled together perfectly with a little bow. "Don't say I don't buy you nice things."

"It's not an engagement ring is it?" George jibes. "I'm messing. It's not even as if we can get married anyway. The law says no."

"Maybe one day," Levi reasons. "Now go on. Open it."

George snickers, carefully untying the ribbon to ensure it doesn't get damaged; then, he slides the lid from the box to reveal his gift. Sat neatly inside the box, is a necklace with a locket pendant linked to it; the pendant has the most stunning engraving of a beautiful crucifix cross on the outside; when George opens the locket, he finds the sweetest photo of himself and Levi proudly presented inside.

"This is so lovely," George beams, examining the photograph's every detail meticulously. "Thank you so much."

"I know you like crucifixes for some reason," Levi explains. "Even if you aren't religious. You little weirdo. But that's my favourite photo of us."

"It's perfect," George gasps softly. "You're much more thoughtful than I've ever given you credit for." He pulls the chain from its box gently, unclasping it and handing it to Levi. "Put it on me. I may as well wear it while I'm not at home."

Levi carefully turns George around, so that he can apply the necklace. Once he's sealed the clasp, he rotates George so they face one another. "There. It suits you," he compliments.

"You have good taste," George returns, glancing down to admire his gift. "It's just gorgeous."

"Without sounding cheesy, I have a habit of choosing the most gorgeous things," Levi flirts shamelessly; his eyes avert upwards, purposely. "Well, would you look at that? Mistletoe. It's almost as if I planned this in advance, isn't it?"

George moves his gaze to the direction in which Levi's is fixated; when he spots the mistletoe, he laughs. "How predictable did you want to be, you tosser?"

"Predictable as they come. Now shut up and follow the rules." He grins at George with eyes full of love, which George returns quickly; with no more words spoken, Levi seals the small gap between them in a delicate kiss. The fragility remains for a few moments, until George reaches across to rest his hands against Levi's upper arms; this triggers Levi to caress the sweet Greek's jawline as their passion deepens.

Being so lost in the moment, George's mind can only form one thought — and that is how right everything feels, when he is in Goring with Levi; how all his worries fade away as soon as he can feel the touch of the man he loves; and how nothing else matters.

• • •

Chapter thirty-nine! Hope you enjoyed. xx