this might be the most wholesome chapter i've ever written...christmas in june tehe

billie_kent posted

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billie_kent: merry christmas you filthy animals

COMMENTS:
jamie_tartt: merry fucking christmas!

alfiesykes98: happy christmas!!!

maddsgreen: love you!!!!

colinhughes: happy christmas boyo!

"Merry Christmas!" Madison and Alfie's voices rang through the kitchen as Billie left her bedroom, already dressed for the day, while they were both still wearing Christmas pajamas.

The three friends had made it an annual tradition to buy matching Christmas pajamas and wear them on Christmas Eve each year. Both Alfie and Madison's families had always done something similar, but it wasn't something that Billie had ever experienced growing up.

"Merry Christmas, you sexy bastards," Billie hugged them both as Madison handed her a buck's fizz.

"You look bloody divine, Bils," Madison grinned at her best friend who was wearing a red off the shoulder jumper and black denim skirt with opaque black tights and her chunky boots, "A certain striker won't be able to contain himself."

"Don't make it weird, Madds," Billie sighed.

It had been a running theme in the weeks since the team had forgiven Jamie. He'd been spending more time with Billie and the boys, often at one of the boys' houses, or sometimes at her flat, often the two of them would hang out without anyone else. And on the occasions when the group would hang out at someone else's house Jamie would always make sure to offer to drive Billie home before anyone could.

So Billie's best friends had more than ample reason to suspect that something more was going on between the two friends, even if it wasn't, even if Billie did whatever she could to avoid that exact topic.

"Well, Jamie Tartt or not, it's weird that you have to go into work on Christmas, Bils," Alfie remarked.

"I'm not working today, we're doing a gift swap, then I'll be on my way to Richmond Lodge," Billie explained, "I don't mind spending the morning at work, Roy's busy anyway."

Christmas had always been Billie's favourite time of year, not because her parents made an extra big fuss of their youngest child (they didn't), but because it meant she got to spend three whole days with her big brother. Every Christmas Eve Roy would take his two sisters to Winter Wonderland in London, and then when Phoebe was born, she joined them too.

Even hard man Roy Kent didn't mind being seen somewhere as joyous as that, because seeing the look of delight on his sister's face when he won her the biggest teddy possible when she was eight, was worth all of it.

The large husky teddy bear sitting on the sofa in Billie's shared flat was yet another year of history repeating itself. Roy had won one for each of his favourite girls.

"And how about you two?" Billie looked between her two friends, "What time are you heading home for Christmas?"

"Dad's picking me up in about an hour," Madison told her, "Then we're driving to Grandma's down in Kingston."

"I'll be setting off for home in about two hours, mum's got the day of work for once so we'll all be around the table for Christmas dinner," Alfie explained.

"People go to the dentist on Christmas Day?" Billie frowned.

"You'd be surprised," Alfie sighed, "I can give you and your bag of presents a lift to work, if that helps?"

"God, you're a fucking Christmas miracle," Billie smiled at her friend, "I went a bit crazy on Christmas presents."

"You bought presents for the whole team?" Madison remarked, impressed that she could afford gifts for twenty odd young men who got paid more in a week than any of them did in a year.

"No, we're doing our own gift exchange, the boys are doing secret santa," Billie explained, having been the one to suggest it to Ted.

"So you didn't get Jamie a present?" Alfie asked.

"She is the present," Madison smirked, "Ready to be unwrapped."

"You're not funny," Billie rolled her eyes, "And the boys and I aren't doing presents."

"Right," Madison nodded slowly, "We're still on for Friendmas this evening though, right?"

"Fucking better be," Alfie replied, "I'll be ready to retreat from my parents' house the minute my Dad whips out his Rod Stewart compilation album."

"Well, I'll see you both back here this evening, ready for all the presents, all the Christmas TV shows, and mince pies for good measure," Billie grinned.

"I fucking love Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, boys," Billie smiled as she walked into the locker room, where Isaac sat in the middle, leading the secret santa gift exchange, dressed in an impressive red Christmas style tracksuit, looking every inch the South London Father Christmas.

"Merry Christmas, Billie!" The boys called out.

"You said you weren't doing secret santa," Jan gestured to the two bags of gifts on her shoulders.

"Yeah, these are presents for the grown ups," She gestured towards the offices.

"Ah, right," The boys nodded as they watched her walk into the coaches' office where the coaches, Higgins and Keeley were already sitting, as though they were waiting for her.

"Merry Christmas, Sporty Spice!" Ted exclaimed as the young woman entered the festively decorated office, placing her bags on Ted's desk as she collapsed into a chair beside Keeley.

"Merry Christmas, team," She sighed with a smile, "You better enjoy these presents, my shoulders could collapse, those bags are so heavy."

"Drink?" Ted replied.

"Make it strong," Billie nodded.

"Coming up," Ted replied, browsing the selection of drinks available as Billie began distributing her tastefully wrapped gifts.

She had bought Higgins a book which detailed all the locations that jazz music fans should visit, her gift to Nate was a light up candle, decorated with the landmarks of Richmond, for Beard it was a book on the history of women's football. She'd already given Keeley her presents, as almost sister in laws, they'd done their gift exchange the day before.

"And this is for you, Coach," Billie placed the large gift wrapped box on his desk, "It's a bit much, but it's more of a thank you than anything else."

"That's very sweet, thank you, Billie," Ted smiled as he tore the paper off of the box, revealing a red record player, along with a copy of Born In The USA by Bruce Springsteen.

"I wasn't really sure what music you'd enjoy, but I thought that The Boss would be a nice flavour of home," Billie explained, "And I chose red so that it can be your own ruby slippers, and any time you miss home, you can go back in your own way."

"Billie, that is so darn thoughtful, thank you," Ted replied, touched by the effort the young woman had gone to for his Christmas gift.

"You absolute softy," Keeley grinned, wrapping her arms around Billie.

"I've got a gift for you too, Coach," Nate handed him the parcel, regretting his decision to wait for Billie's arrival before giving him the gift.

"Oh, let's see here," Ted hummed as he unwrapped the present, "Nate, is this a photo of you and me after our first win?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks, buddy, I appreciate it," Ted smiled, handing the frame to Keeley.

"Ted, thank you for everything you've done for me, Nathan," Keeley read the words written on the photo, "Oh, that's lovely."

Keeley handed the framed photo to Beard, "Oh, what a lovely inscription that you wrote completely over my head, face and body."

"Sorry," Nate nodded as the team erupted in cheers, the group looking out the office window to see Will holding a box full of cash with a huge smile on his face.

"Secret Santa's a fun new tradition," Higgins smiled, "As is a half day for Christmas."

"Well, I think we gotta be responsible," Ted replied, "We gotta save our legs for tomorrow's big game."

"And if we get this Boxing Day win, we'll finally have more wins than losses," Beard sighed.

"Coach, what are you doing the rest of the day?" Ted asked Nate.

"I'm just spending it with my family," Nate replied, "I finally make enough money to buy something nice for my dad, he can be very tricky to shop for."

"Oh, he's one of them fellas that buys everything for himself, huh?"

"I wish, he just hates everything," Nate sighed.

"I know the feeling," Billie muttered, looking at Beard, "What about you, Coach?"

"Jane and I are going to a pagan Christmas ritual at Stonehenge," Beard replied.

"What?" Keeley frowned, "I thought you two broke up."

"We did, but we got the tickets before we broke up," Beard explained, "We're going as friends."

"That's gonna be..." Ted couldn't find the right words, "What about you, Keeley?"

"Roy and I are celebrating a new tradition that I'm calling 'Sexy Christmas.'" Keeley told them as the men whistled and Billie covered her ears, "It's not gonna be like that, it's gonna be a swinging Sinatra, Vegasy type Christmas for adults where we get all dressed up, and we sip on martins, sit by the fire, and then it's gonna be like that."

"Ted, pour me another," Billie handed her empty glass back to the coach as the rest of the room made various 'Sexy Christmas-esque' noises.

"Are you all talking about Sexy Christmas?" Rebecca grinned as she joined the group.

"Maybe."

"Hey, boss," Ted smiled, "Let me get you a drink."

"Yes, thank you."

"How you spending the rest of Santa's birthday?" Ted asked.

"I'm just going to a Christmas party at a friend's house," Rebecca replied.

"What friend is that?" Keeely asked.

"First and last name, please." Billie added.

"Elton John."

"Fuck me." Billie exclaimed.

"Holy shit!" Nate remarked.

"Hold me closer, Tiny Dancer, Prancer and Vixen," Ted exclaimed, handing Rebecca and Billie their drinks.

"Yes, it's rather lovely, we just sing carols around Elton's piano, and hopefully Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig will do their puppet show again,"

"That sounds like double-O heaven to me," Ted smiled, "What about you, Higgins?"

"The Higgins family will be opening Christmas presents and then hosting an open house for players who don't have family in town," Higgins explained, "Something we do every year, we usually get about two, it's really nice, you're more than welcome, Ted."

"I appreciate that offer, Higgie Smalls, but I am all good, baby, baby," Ted replied, "This is the first Christmas the family's away from each other, so once Henry wakes up here, in about an hour, he wants us to open presents and spend all day together on FaceTime, it's gonna be a lovely afternoon of yuletide cheer in two dimensions."

"And what about you, Sporty Spice?" Ted asked Billie as she sipped on her drink.

"I'm doing Friendmas with my housemates," She told him, choosing to avoid the topic of where she'd be spending most of the day, knowing that if her colleagues knew they'd definitely ask her to join them, and Billie was not in the mood to be her brother and Keeley's third wheel again (she wouldn't have minded going to Elton John's house though), "It's a different Christmas, no family rules, no family fights, just fun, alcohol and shit Christmas TV."

"Oh, to be young again," Ted sighed.

Billie looked up at the sound of the door opening to see Jamie entering the office, "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Billie," He smiled at Billie, closing the door behind him.

"Merry Christmas, Jamie," She replied with a grin.

"How you doing, Jamie? What can I help you with?" Ted asked.

"Erm, have you got anything that I can give as a present?" Jamie asked.

"Did you not buy a secret santa gift?" Billie remarked.

"I didn't know I had to," Jamie replied as she sighed with a smile, "The email said 'secret santa', I didn't want to ruin the surprise, did I?"

Billie couldn't help but smile.

"Oh, Jamie," Rebecca sighed.

"You know what, hold on here," Ted moved towards his drinks cabinet, retrieving an unopened, nicely packaged bottle, "Yep, here you go, Higgins, look alive!"

Ted tossed the bottle to Higgins who caught it with ease, placing it on the desk where Beard wrapped it with some spare wrapping paper.

Nate tore off some strips of sellotape, hopping off of his seat on the shelving unit as Keeley handed Rebecca some sticky ribbon decorations, which she placed haphazardly on top of the parcel.

"What are you doing?" Billie whispered softly, "No, no."

"Oh, here comes a little magic pixie dust," Ted smiled as Billie adjusted the wrapped gift, making it look perfectly presentable, not that its recipient would really mind.

"There you go, Tartt," Billie stepped back as Jamie approached the wrapped present in awe.

He picked up the parcel, looking at each person in the room before he sighed, "God bless me...everyone."

"Wow," Beard whispered as Billie laughed fondly.

As the team dispersed, ready to celebrate Christmas in their own ways, Billie made her way out of the office, a tote bag of gifts on her shoulder. Various highlights included a signed One Direction vinyl from Rebecca, a pair of green Gazelles from Ted and a bottle of perfume that Higgins' wife had picked out.

"Billie!" She turned around to see Jamie hurrying towards her, "Wait a minute."

"You okay, Jamie?" She replied with a smile.

"Yeah, I just wanted to give you this," He held out a wrapped present, Billie's eyes flitted between Jamie and the parcel in his hand.

"You didn't have to do that, Jamie," Billie smiled, touched that even though he knew nothing about secret santa, he'd still gone out of his way to get her a present.

"I know," He assured her as she took the present from his hands, "But I wanted to."

Billie unwrapped the present, looking down at the box in her hands, the label informing her that he had bought her a film camera, and not just a cheap disposable one, this camera was vintage, and knowing what Billie knew about cameras, she knew it wasn't cheap.

"Jamie, this is too much," Billie sighed.

"Well I am a footballer, and I get paid enough so it seemed pretty worth it to me," Jamie insisted, and Billie knew that even if she tried to decline the gift, he wouldn't hear of it, "And I know you don't have one."

"How did you know that I don't have one?" Billie asked.

"Well you're always using those disposable ones, so I went to the camera shop on the high street and the man told me that was the best one," Jamie explained and Billie could practically feel her heart growing in her chest.

"You're a proper softie, huh?" Billie grinned before hugging him, "Thank you."

"If you'd told me a year ago I'd be hugging Roy Kent's sister, I never would've believed you," Jamie sighed with a smile.

"Shut up," Billie laughed as she pulled away.

"What are you doing for Christmas?" Jamie asked, assuming that she'd probably be spending the day with her family.

Billie didn't see much point in lying to Jamie, they both knew each other well enough that he'd be able to tell if she did, "I'm spending the at the old people's home my Grandma was at until she died."

Billie's grandmother was her second favourite person to spend Christmas with, up until she died when Billie was fourteen years old. Her own father wasn't particularly close to his mother when she was alive, but Roy and his two sisters would always make sure to spend the afternoon with her while she was alive. The other people at the home loved the Kent siblings too, and for many who didn't get visits from their loved ones, it was the highlight of their Christmas.

"Could I join you?" Jamie asked and Billie couldn't stop the confused frown on her face.

"You want to spend Christmas Day with me at an old people's home?" Billie remarked, "Aren't you going back to Manchester?"

"There ain't much point going home, it's a four hour drive, so by the time I've got there, eaten me tea and given me mum her presents it'll be time to come back," Jamie explained, "I'm going up on the 27th instead."

"So what'd you be doing if I said no?" Billie smiled, even though she knew she wasn't going to turn him down if he truly wanted to spend his day with her and all those elderly people.

"Watching Home Alone two and three, watched number one last night." Jamie told her.

"So you've got the best one to look forward to, Lost in New York."

"Erm, the first one is easily the best." Jamie frowned.

"Agree to disagree?" Billie smirked, "Otherwise your entrance to the old people's home is declined."

"Alright," Jamie smiled, "You want me to drive?"

"Well, I'm three drinks down so maybe don't trust me behind the wheel of your fancy sports car," Billie replied.

"Got it," Jamie nodded, gesturing towards the car park, "Your carriage awaits."

"What are the rest of your family doing?" Jamie asked as the pair left his car behind and walked up towards the entrance of the building where Billie had planned to spend her Christmas, the sign reading Richmond Lodge: Elderly People's Home.

"Roy's with Keeley, my sister will be with Phoebe," Billie explained, having already celebrated Christmas with her siblings the day before.

"Your parents?" Jamie replied.

"On a cruise across the Mediterranean Sea." Billie answered honestly as they reached the front door.

"Without you?"

"i'm just the happy accident that they conceived on their twentieth wedding anniversary," Billie sighed, "I've not spent Christmas with them in a long time."

"Oh, right," Jamie replied as they made their way through the door, not sure what else to say. He hadn't necessarily had the simplest childhood, but Christmas was something he'd always associated with family, even if it was just spending the day with his mum. She'd work tirelessly throughout December in order to afford the nicest gifts for her son, who honestly wouldn't have minded what she left under the Christmas tree, he just wanted to see his mother happy.

"Billie," The lady at the reception desk greeted the pair, her eyes falling to Jamie in disbelief, "And Jamie Tartt?"

"Brought a friend," Billie smiled as the lady handed her the clipboard where they'd need to sign in, "That's alright, isn't it, Marie?"

"Of course," Marie nodded as Billie signed her name on the visitor's log, "Derek's going to be over the moon, he's a massive Richmond fan."

"Good to hear," Billie handed the clipboard to Jamie.

"Do I just write me name?" Jamie asked.

"Yeah, and the time you got here, and then your signature," Billie told him.

"What if someone tries to steal me identity?" Jamie frowned.

"Jamie, they're pensioners, no one here is going to steal your identity," Billie sighed.

"Alright," Jamie nodded, grateful for Billie's reassurance as he scribbled his name and then a fake signature, still not entirely convinced.

"You know where you're going, don't you, Billie?" Marie smiled as Jamie handed the clipboard back.

"Yeah," Billie nodded, "Are they in the living room?"

"They should be finishing pudding about now," Marie told them as she buzzed them through the secure door.

"Thank you, Marie," Billie smiled before leading Jamie down the corridor.

"So, what do you do with them exactly?" Jamie asked Billie as they made their way towards the large living area, following the sound of muffled Christmas music.

"Most of them like to talk," Billie told him, "Some of them don't get visits from family or friends all year."

"If me mum's ever in a place like this I'd never stop visiting her," Jamie replied as they reached the open doorway to the living area where the residents were sitting in various armchairs, "Me dad on the other hand."

"I know the feeling," Billie sighed.

"Look who it is!" One of the residents exclaimed as they laid eyes on Billie, "We weren't expecting you this year."

Various choruses of 'hi' and 'hello' sounded around the room as Billie greeted each of the fifteen residents one by one as Jamie stood back and watched her with a small smile.

"Who's that fella, Billie?" Beryl, who didn't care for football, asked the young woman, "He looks bloody terrified."

"Everyone," Billie addressed the room, "This is my friend, Jamie, he's come to spend the afternoon with us."

"Alright," Jamie nodded at the room, and Billie could tell that the usually confident footballer was out of his depth.

She approached him with a smile of reassurance, "You can talk to them, you know?"

"About what?"

"Just ask them about their day," Billie told him as she looked across the room to see Derek, a lifelong AFC Richmond fan putting his glasses on to confirm that the young man standing several metres away was in fact Jamie Tartt, "Come with me."

Billie interlocked her hand with Jamie's, leading him across the living room towards Derek who was sitting with two ladies that lived at the home.

"Where do you find all these footballers, Billie?" Derek smiled as the two guests stood in front of him.

"Derek, this is Jamie, Jamie this is Derek, he's been a Richmond fan since, well, forever, right, Derek?" Billie introduced the pair.

"Eighty six years and counting," Derek nodded.

"Woah," Jamie muttered.

"Who's your favourite player, Derek?" Billie asked as the two other elderly ladies watched the interaction with warm smiles, knowing that it would complete Derek's Christmas.

"Oh, well I think that Colin Hughes is great," Derek replied and Billie had to stifle her laughter, knowing that Jamie's ego would have led him to believe that he'd be first choice, or at least that the old man would say him due to being in the same room as him.

"Well, I'll be sure to invite Colin next year," Billie told him, teasing Jamie at the same time, "Think you can make do with Jamie in the meantime?"

"He'll do," Derek smiled.

"Perfect," Billie sat Jamie down in the spare chair, "I'm going to see if the ladies in the kitchen need any help, alright?"

"Yeah," Jamie nodded, not wanting to be difficult, yet feeling much more at ease with Billie by his side.

Jamie watched as Billie made her way out of the room before returning his attention to the three elderly people sitting around him.

"You know our Billie, then?" Jane, one of the residents, smiled fondly.

"Yeah." Jamie nodded.

"She's an angel, isn't she?" Jane replied.

"Yeah, she is." Jamie nodded as he looked over his shoulder, watching Billie return with a tray of drinks.

"We've known her since she was a tiny little girl," Jane told him, "Her grandmother Violet lived here, Billie would visit her with Roy and Hannah every Christmas, she died when Billie was fourteen, and Billie still visits every Christmas."

"She doesn't do Christmas with her family?" Jamie replied.

"She often spends it with her siblings, but her parents pretty much checked out in that department long before her brother was at Chelsea," Derek explained, "You must've met him when he was at Richmond."

"Roy's a prick," Jamie sighed before worrying that old people wouldn't appreciate his choice of language.

"You must really like our Billie then," Jane smiled, "Because she has always idolised her big brother."

"Oh, we're not-"

"Could've fooled me," Derek laughed to himself, and before Jamie could deny it, he was quite literally saved by the bell as his phone rang in his pocket.

Jamie pulled his phone out of his pocket, looking down to see that it was his mum calling, "Sorry, I've got to take this."

Billie watched as Jamie slipped out of the room, making her way over to Derek's side of the room, "You didn't scare him off, did you?" She frowned.

"He said he had to take a phone call," Derek told her.

"Right," Billie nodded, "I'll be back in a minute."

She made her way out of the room and down the corridor, worrying that Jane might have said something to rattle him. But as she turned round the corner she saw him with his back to her and his phone to his ear.

"Yeah, I'm at an old people's home with Billie...Roy Kent's sister...yeah she is really nice...alright, don't get ahead of yourself...yes, it is that Billie," Jamie spoke on the phone, and from what he was saying she assumed that he was talking to his mum.

She felt like she should've probably just gone back to the living room and left him to it, but before she could, Jamie looked over his shoulder, offering her a nervous smile, "Alright, Mum, I've got to go, talk later, yeah?"

Billie lingered as Jamie finished his call, before turning back to face her, "How much of that did you hear?" He asked.

"I heard enough," Billie smiled, "They'll be cracking out the board games soon, you think you can contain yourself?"

"I'm actually very fucking competitive," Jamie replied with a grin.

"Really?" Billie teased, "Never would've guessed."

"Fuck off," Jamie smiled, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and leading her back to the living area.

Jamie had spent about two hours talking to Derek about Richmond and football in general while Billie busied herself, chatting with the other residents and playing various board games.

"There's mistletoe over there," Jane told Jamie as she gestured to the sprig of mistletoe hanging in the doorway, "Apparently it's bad luck to say no to mistletoe."

Jamie frowned at her and then looked across the room at Billie who was playing dominoes with Darlene, "I think I'm a bit young for you, love."

"I ain't talking about me you fool," Jane scoffed, "We've all seen the way you've been looking at our lovely Billie."

"Oh, no, we're just friends," Jamie insisted.

"Pull the other one, son," Derek remarked.

"I've got a plan," Jane told the two men softly, and Jamie couldn't quite believe what he was hearing or that two old people were trying to set him up, "Go and stand in that area of the room with Derek and we'll ask Billie to take a photo of you both and then we'll make it happen."

Jamie felt awkward enough about everything that had happened between him and Billie, he didn't need the assistance of two elderly people who once knew her grandmother when all he'd been doing was trying to forget what it was like to kiss Billie, "You don't need to-"

"Billie!" Jane called out, the young woman looking over her shoulder before Jamie could protest, "Could you take a picture of Derek and Jamie on your phone?"

"Yeah, alright," Billie nodded.

"We'll stand there," Derek gestured to the doorway which had been lovingly decorated with tinsel by the carers who worked at the home.

"Alright," Billie smiled as Jamie reluctantly helped Derek up from his chair and over to the doorway, aware that he could hardly refuse to take a photo with an elderly man who had been a Richmond fan his whole life.

Jamie and Derek stood in front of the open doorway as Billie took a photo of them both as the two men smiled.

"Billie, sort Derek's bow tie out, will you?" Jane called out, "It's all skewiff."

"Okay," Billie sighed, approaching the two men, unknowingly standing under the mistletoe.

"Oh, why don't I get my Richmond scarf, that'll be grand," Derek smiled as soon as Billie was standing in front of Jamie.

"You really don't have to-"

"I'm already on my way!" Derek exclaimed as he slowly shuffled down the hallway towards his room.

"I bet this isn't exactly the Christmas you imagined," Billie sighed as she stood beside Jamie, waiting for Derek's return.

"Mistletoe!" Jane exclaimed, pointing at Jamie and Billie who both looked up at the same time and then back at each other, both aware of what it meant.

"We don't have to..." Jamie's voice trailed off.

Billie looked around at the elderly people in the room, who were all now eagerly watching the pair, before looking back at Jamie, "Who would I be to spoil their Christmas and make you Derek's least favourite Richmond player, hmm?"

Before Jamie could object, Billie placed his hands on his shoulders, standing on her toes and gave him a quick peck on the lips. It was nothing in comparison to the other kisses they'd shared. But it didn't matter, because as Billie pulled away smiling, it reaffirmed everything Jamie had been feeling since the day Richmond got relegated, the tight tug on his heart was simply a physical manifestation of that.

"Thanks for today," Jamie smiled at Billie as they pulled up outside her flat, "I probably would've gone crazy at home by myself all day."

"You're welcome, Jamie," Billie replied, "And for what it's worth, that was the best form any of them have been on for a long while, so thank you."

"Christmas is weird when you don't have the 'normal' family thing going on, innit?" Jamie sighed.

"Yeah," Billie muttered, looking up at the window of her flat as she sat in Jamie's passenger seat, she knew that Jamie probably needed to rest before the Boxing Day match, but she wasn't sure she liked the idea of him being on his own for the rest of the evening, not on Christmas, "You can join us for Friendmas, if you want."

"Would your friends be okay with that?" Jamie asked, not wanting to overstep.

"Of course," Billie nodded.

"I would, but I should probably get home and give me mum a call," Jamie sighed.

"So she can grill you about me?" Billie teased him, in regards to the conversation she had heard on the phone.

"Knowing her, probably," Jamie smiled fondly, "She just wants me to be happy."

"And are you?" Billie muttered.

"Haven't been this happy in a long time."

author's note: progress looks good on them!
also i can't wait for billie to meet jamie's mum (eventually)
i wrote just one chapter for this episode as it kind of made sense for it to all be in one, but next update will be a double bubble!