Ellie and Noah came down the first week of December to spend the Christmas holidays. Ellie could tell right away that something was going on between her son and the gardener, but she could also tell that they were trying to keep it quiet, and that Ned was unaware of any of it, so she held her tongue.

The first snow of the season fell, and Chiara was kept on the run for a couple of days, making sure all of the properties she managed were all tucked in for the winter. She took extra care with the Langton roses, since they were in effect in her front yard now, and Ellie watched from the warmth of the kitchen as Chiara moved efficiently from bush to bush, making sure they were cut back as far as she could cut them until February, when the time would come to actually prune them down to just the canes, and to strip off all the leaves.

"Don't you three feel terrible, watching her working so hard while you just lounge about all day and play video games?" she asked the boys.

"Why should I? I'm a hard working student in school, best marks in my year and everything," Noah reminded her. "I can't speak for these two bellends."

"Language."

"We were up until the wee hours writing for the new album, mum," Ned protested, looking at Drew for support. "Tell her, Drew!"

"Neddy's right," Drew agreed, getting out a mug for tea. "We were using our minds and imaginations and all, letting our creative juices flow, you know?" He leaned in and planted a kiss on his mother's cheek.

"You two," she chided, shaking her head.

"Plus, you know we just got roped into doing the Christmas special in London next week," Drew added. "That means at least three days up there, rehearsing, staying in a hotel and all, with the crowds, the paps, the fans--"

"I thought Luke couldn't make it?" Ned questioned. "I thought we didn't have to do anything unless it was all four of us?"

"Gary convinced him," Drew informed Ned. "Sounds like he really needs the money, and he basically begged Luke to do it, so--" he shrugged.

"I don't really mind, do you?" Ned asked.

"Nah, it's only a few days, plenty of time to get back here for Christmas and all," Drew said with another shrug. "Mum and Noah wanted a few days in London to shop as well, so it works out all the way around."

"Do we know what songs we're doing?" Ned asked.

"A couple from the last album, and a couple of Christmas carols with the Philharmonic," Drew told him. "It's going to be amazing."

Ned whistled.

Chiara had finally finished with the roses, and Drew had timed it perfectly and had a hot cup of tea ready for her. He picked it up to take it to her, but Ned plucked it from his hand, saying, "I got this, mate, you stay here, keep warm and have a wag with your mum."

He was out the French doors before Drew could say anything sensible.

Noah, Drew and Ellie watched as Ned tapped Chiara on the shoulder and handed her the tea. Chiara said something, obviously words of thanks, and gave Ned a blinding smile that lit up her whole face.

Ned shook his head at her thanks, sipping his own tea, and pointed at a bush next to him, asking her a question about it. Chiara turned to look at it, and began speaking, gesturing with the hand that wasn't holding the mug to help her explain. She bent over to look at something, motioning for Ned to come closer as well.

Ned reached out a hand and placed it on her back as he, too, leaned over to look at whatever she was showing him. His large hand showed very clearly against her dark jacket, and Ellie could sense Drew tensing up next to her.

She reached out and rubbed his shoulder in a comforting way. "Relax, son, it's just his hand on her back."

Noah looked over at his brother with interest at his mother's words, but didn't say anything.

Drew tapped on the French doors to get their attention and gestured for them to come inside when they turned around.

"Yeah?" Ned looked at his friend as he entered.

"Just wondering if you wanted to have dinner with us, then watch a movie after," Drew asked Chiara. "Mum and Noah haven't seen you in a while, CC."

"Sounds great." Chiara was enthusiastic. "I have a full couple of days after this because of the snow, so this will be my last free time for a while." She looked around. "So what are we watching?"

No one but Drew saw Ellie shake her head at her eldest son as Chiara went to wash her hands in the mudroom.

After dinner, they all sat in the lounge, where Drew and Noah together built a roaring fire. The benefit of this was questionable, since William Wallace insisted on lying right in front of it and absorbing most of the heat, but it was still very homey and nice.

Chiara sat on the love seat, and was pleasantly surprised when Ned came and sat on one side of her, and Noah came and sat on the other. When Drew came in and saw the seating arrangements, he shook his head immediately.

"No, no way, Noah, you go and sit by mum."

"What? Why?" Noah was affronted. "I want to sit by Chiara. She smells nice."

"Mum smells just as nice," Drew informed him. "She's mine and Neddy's friend, now move."

Just as Chiara was beginning to feel uncomfortable and wondering if she should say anything, Ellie spoke up.

"Do as your brother says, Noah." Her tone made it obvious she would brook no opposition, and Noah got up and went to sit next to his mother, though he did punch his brother rather hard when he walked past him.

Tonight they watched Django Unchained, which was funny, violent, salient and wise in equal measure, though the language and savagery were so brutal that by the time it was over Chiara felt like she'd been beaten.

"Well, I'm going to say good bye to you all now, since I'm not going to see you again before you go to London," Chiara said before she left. "Like I said, I'm going to be running all over the county for the next couple of days, and you're leaving for London the day after tomorrow to do your Christmas show for the BBC, right?"

"Yes, we have a couple days of rehearsals, then the show on the fifteenth, then a few days of shopping, right, mum?" Drew asked his mother, who nodded.

"So okay, hugs all round, then," Chiara said, putting deed to the words and hugging everyone.

"Yeah, it's going to be brilliant," Drew told Chiara. "I hope you're going to watch?"

"Wouldn't miss it," she promised.

She had just shut the French doors behind her for the short, frosty walk back to her cottage when she heard the doors open behind her.

"Hey, CC!"

She turned to see Drew standing on the steps in his T-shirt, jeans and socks.

"What are you doing? You'll freeze, get back inside!"

He gestured for her to come back, pointing to his shoe-less state.

"Just wanted to give you a proper good bye, that's all, and tell you I'll miss you, yeah?"

He put his hands on either side of her face and kissed her soundly on the mouth.

"You didn't have to, Andrew, you're not my boyfriend or anything."

"I know that, but I will miss you, and I wanted to say so, that's all." Drew smiled, his breath making a halo around his face.

"Okay, well, I'll miss you as well," Chiara said, kissing him again, slipping her hands under his T-shirt to rest on his hips. "See you in about a week."

"Good night, CC."

"Good night, Drew."

🌞❄️🌞❄️🌞❄️🌞❄️🌞❄️🌞

Chiara worked like a maniac for the next two days, pruning limbs, hauling them away, making sure the snow didn't cause any branches to break, and just generally making sure all of her properties were winterized. She dropped into bed at the end of the second day exhausted but satisfied that she'd done everything she could, everything her father would've done to prepare for the cold and inclement weather ahead. Now it was just a matter of keeping things clean and planting bulbs on nice days.

Just as she was drifting off, her phone dinged with a text.

She smiled, thinking it might be Drew. She hadn't heard from him since the other night, and she still got a warm feeling remembering the kiss in the rose garden.

But the text wasn't from Drew, it was from Ellie.

Hello, Sweetheart, I was wondering what you were doing for the next few days?

Chiara answered quickly.

Nothing, really, barring an emergency, which isn't very likely? I finished all my work today.

Would you like to come up to London for a couple of days? You could watch the show with Noah and me from the VIP section, and then see the city with us, shop a little?

Chiara thought this time before answering.

It's so kind of you to offer, but I really don't have money to spend on anything like that at the moment. My father's funeral  took up most of our savings, and left our finances in sort of a muddle. So I thank you, but I'll have to refuse.

No no, hotel, meals, shopping and all that would be on me, of course! I would never invite you and not make it an all inclusive sort of affair, Chiara! Please come! I'll send a car and everything! Just put some jeans and sweaters in a bag and you'll be all set, Sweetheart. The car will be there around lunchtime. Please say yes! William Wallace is at a kennel, so it's all sorted, please?

Chiara read the whole exchange again, very carefully, trying to see if Ellie really wanted her to say yes, or if it was just a kind invitation. She must mean it, or she could have simply not asked at all, right?

She carefully typed:

Okay, if you're sure I wouldn't be imposing in any way? I wouldn't be intruding on your family time with your sons??

Oh, please, not at all! Please come join us! It will be a lovely surprise for Drew, so shh, no telling, all right?

All right! See you tomorrow!

Wonderful! Kisses to you!

And thank you, Ellie!

Chiara snuggled down in her blankets, unable to keep the smile off her face. She was going to watch Manderley Dreams perform from the VIP section, with Drew Pennington's mother and brother! And spend a few days in London with them, in a posh hotel!

Happy Early Christmas to her!

Wow.