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Chapter Text

She didn’t know how long she’d been there. She wasn’t even sure where ‘there’ was. All she knew was that she was cold. She was very cold. And it was dark. It was very dark.

All Audrey Hall remembered was driving back from Pumphrey Manor, when she had hit the snowdrift she was now stuck in. But why? Why had she been driving back from there? What possible reason could she have…

Her thoughts were interrupted by a groan from beside her. Turning, she suddenly remembered everything. Siegfried. He’d been exhausted when the call had come, and so she had offered to drive him. He’d saved the cat, who Mrs Pumphrey had found in the snow, but on the way home she had hit the snowdrift. Neither of them had seen it. Not until it was too late. And now…

There was a cut over his eye, and he seemed really dazed. As he looked up at her she could tell he wasn’t really seeing her. It seemed to take a moment for his eyes to focus enough to even identify her, and when he spoke his voice was hoarse, as though he were somewhere else entirely.

“It’s alright,” she told him, suddenly finding herself able to focus. “It’s alright, love. I’ll get help. Just hold on. Here, wrap up with this blanket. I’ll be back soon. I promise. I love you.”

At least with the end of the war the blackouts had ended, and that meant that Audrey could see light coming from a nearby farmhouse. Well, ‘nearby’ was a stretch. It was in vision, and that would have to do. She had to get help. Siegfried needed her, and she would not let him down.

It felt like she walked for hours. Her legs hurt as though she had climbed a mountain, and her lungs felt as though they were fighting a losing battle against the elements. But, eventually, she reached the farm. Light was still shining from the windows, and so she quickly rushed to the door and hammered on it loudly.

“Hello! Hello! Help! Please! Can you help?!”

It wasn’t until she turned around, that Audrey spotted a familiar car. Then, glancing around further, she started to recognise other elements of her location.

“Audrey?!”
“Helen!” she said, almost falling into her friend’s arms. “I need help. He needs help. The car, it… I didn’t see it, and… and now he’s…”
“Whoa, slow down,” Helen told her. “Go slowly.”
“I can’t! He’s hurt!” Audrey exclaimed. “I need help. You have to save him!”
“What’s going on?” Richard asked, appearing at the door with James behind him.
“I don’t know,” Helen said, taking Rosie from James. “But I suggest you two grab shovels and follow Audrey. Somebody’s injured, I’m guessing in the snow, and I’m guessing Siegfried. Go on the pair of you. I’ll watch the kids.”

X

When Siegfried opened his eyes, he was a little confused. The last thing he remembered, apart from a very hazy bit of what he assumed was a dream, was heading home from Mrs P’s with Audrey. And now… now, he was in bed, covered in what felt like the weight of several heavy tog duvets. How he had got home, he had no idea.

“Mmm…” he moaned, trying to push the covers off himself and finding himself distinctly lacking in strength. “Hello? Mrs Hall? Tristan?”
“Ah, you’re awake,” Tristan said, walking in. “Good to see your eyes open. How do you feel?”
“Confused,” Siegfried answered. “And weak. What happened?”
“You hit a snowdrift.”
“A snowdrift?! Mrs Hall. Audrey, is she alright?”
“She’s fine,” Tristan smiled. “Tired and a little chilled, but she’ll be feeling much better knowing you’re awake. She saved you, you know?”
“She did?”
“Ran across country to Heston to get help. Richard and James dug you out of the snowdrift and brought you back here. Ruined my evening with Charlotte, but I suppose I can forgive that. You weren’t exactly awake when you got back for me to complain at you. And, luckily for you, Charlotte is a very caring person. She took care of Mrs H while James and I took care of you.”
“Thank you. Can you help me up? These covers feel like they weigh a tonne.”
“I don’t know, I quite like you pinned down and unable to move,” Tristan grinned, moving to help his brother when faced with a scowl. “Alright, alright. Up you get. Steady. Take your time. You took a solid hit to the head. You’re not to work for the rest of the week.”
“I’d argue, but I don’t know which of the three of you to argue with,” Siegfried frowned, falling back down onto the bed. “On second thoughts, maybe I should stay here just a touch longer.”
“Maybe,” Tristan smiled, covering him over again. “Get some more sleep. You’ll feel better for it.”

X

When Siegfried next opened his eyes he felt a little better. The world felt a little more safe and immobile, and when he looked up at the figure by his bed he could only see one of her. With the depth of her beauty, that was almost a shame, but frankly he was just happy to see her at all.

“Mrs Hall,” he whispered. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” she smiled, taking his hand gently. “I were more worried about you. That were a nasty bump you took. Your famous constitution were having to work overtime to keep you going.”
“You can’t get rid of me that easily,” Siegfried chuckled, running his thumb gently over her hand. “I’m informed you were my saviour though. Running to Heston Grange to find rescuers.”
“Running’s pushing it a bit,” Audrey laughed. “I felt like me lungs had been attacked with that big rasp of yours. And me legs felt like very cold jelly.”
“But you did it anyway,” he smiled. “Definition of a hero, that is.”
“Don’t be daft.”
“I’m not being in the slightest bit daft,” Siegfried told her, unable to take his eyes off her as she smiled shyly. “What time is it?”
“3:30,” Audrey answered. “Sun’s already starting to go down. It’s rather beautiful, actually.”
“I wish I could see it.”
“Why can’t you?” she smiled. “We can wrap you up warm, and we can go and watch it from the back door. That’s usually where it looks most beautiful. Come on, stick your slippers and your big woolly robe on. It’ll be good for you to get some fresh air after being in here all day.”

Siegfried was not at his best when it came to accepting help, but something about Audrey’s kindness, combined with her enthusiasm for this adventure, meant he didn’t resist. She helped him with his slippers and robe, and then she helped him to his feet and made sure that he was safe getting down the stairs. He was feeling far better than he had when he’d tried to stand earlier, but truth be told he certainly wasn’t back at 100%. His legs still seemed a little less than cooperative, and he was glad to have her arm around him, helping him to stay upright.

“Here, put your hat and scarf on,” she said, placing them on him before he could argue. “Don’t want you to get any sicker.”
“Very well,” he nodded. “Thank you, my dear.”
“You’re welcome,” Audrey beamed, wrapping him up and then guiding him to the back door. “If you get too cold, let me know.”

It was chilly by the back door, Siegfried couldn’t deny, but with Audrey’s arm around him he felt anything but cold. Having her so close to him was magical. So magical that he barely even noticed the true radiant beauty of the sunset they were being treated to across the village.

“Isn’t it gorgeous?” Audrey said after a moment.
“Yes,” Siegfried smiled, staring down at her. “Beautiful.”
“The calm after the storm, I suppose,” she continued, oblivious to his true meaning. “And it were a storm. Terrifying, if I’m honest. I thought… well, it were scary. Seeing you there injured and not knowing if I could find help for you.”
“But you did,” Siegfried said quietly, smiling softly as she looked up at him. “You fought. You fought for me. And I will be forever in your debt, my darling girl.”
“I…” Audrey stammered, tears appearing in her eyes despite her best endeavours to fight them off.
“When you went to get help,” he said slowly. “I thought I heard you say something. I was quite out of it though, so it’s possible I may have misheard, but then again maybe I didn’t… Did I?”
“I suspect you heard me right,” Audrey whispered. “When I saw you there, and you were hurt, it just… it focused my mind. Not that I haven’t known for a while how I feel, but in that moment it just… I just blurted it out. You’re not mad?”
“My darling, why would I be mad?” Siegfried chuckled, placing his hand on her cheek gently. “I would only be mad, or rather quite considerably upset, if it turned out that you didn’t mean it. Did you?”
“I did,” Audrey smiled, gently turning her head to kiss the palm of his hand. “I did. I love you, Siegfried. I was so scared I was going to lose you.”
“Never going to happen with you there to save me,” he replied, leaning his head on hers. “I love you, Audrey. Every inch of you. Every molecule. You are perfect.”
“I’m not perfect. Far from it.”
“To me, you are perfect,” he smiled. “The most perfect creature ever to exist. And I would like to kiss you, if you’ll allow me that honour.”
“I’d love that,” Audrey beamed as he leaned in and kissed her tenderly. “You’re perfect to me too. Don’t look at me like that, I mean it. All of your eccentricities make you who you are, and I wouldn’t change you for the world, Siegfried Farnon. You’re the man I love, head to toe, all of you.”
“Marry me,” Siegfried whispered. “Please. You don’t have to answer right now, because I know this is me at my impulsive daftness, but one day. One day, please say you’ll marry me.”
“Gladly,” Audrey grinned. “Has the sun gone down yet?”
“Apparently so,” he chuckled, never taking his eyes off her. “I’m sure the sunset was beautiful, but I was a tad distracted.”
“So was I,” she agreed, leaning into his arms with a happy sigh. “So was I.”

Chapter Text

“Oh, dear Lord.”

Well, he’d done it again. Tristan had somehow, even in the depths of post-war shortages, managed to turn Skeldale House into the Land of Mistletoe. It looked like Santa’s house, if spindly Triffids had taken over. Siegfried wanted to say he couldn’t believe it, but of course he could. The boy may have had some emotional issues since the war, but he would never let something like that interfere with his mistletoe-ing of the house. Even when he had been in Italy one Christmas he had written to Maggie and sure enough a huge bunch of mistletoe had been delivered on Christmas Eve.

“I see the mistletoe fairy has struck again,” Audrey chuckled, walking to his side. “Obviously expecting some opportunities with Charlotte.”
“He gets plenty of opportunities with Charlotte,” Siegfried replied. “He doesn’t need mistletoe.”
“Well, James and Helen certainly don’t need the encouragement, they’ve got two kids,” Audrey smirked.
“Hmm…” Siegfried smiled across at her. “Then who is he trying to encourage?”
“Well, maybe he’s trying to…”

Audrey’s response was interrupted by a cacophonous noise coming from the first exam room. A moment later, the door flew open and two geese came waddling, and also wildly flapping, out. For a moment nobody moved, apart from the geese, and then suddenly James appeared at the door of the exam room looking decidedly flustered.

“What on Earth?!” Siegfried exclaimed. “Herriot?!”
“I know! I know!” James replied, exasperatedly trying to corral the two geese. “Don’t bother helping, will you?”
“Sorry, but I wasn’t exactly anticipating the invasion of the geese while I was standing here talking with Mrs Hall,” Siegfried spat, grabbing one of the geese surprisingly effortlessly and taking it into the exam room whilst James continued to fight the other. “Ah… Mr Winstanley. How delightful to see you. What, may I ask, is going on, precisely?”
“I brought our Ethel and our Gladys in to see t’veterinary,” the old man replied. “But he don’t seem to know reyt well what to do wi’ ‘em.”
“Yes, I can see that,” Siegfried agreed, watching as Audrey helped James to bring the other goose in. “What seems to be the problem with... Ethel and Gladys, was it?”
“Siegfried, I’m handling this case,” James frowned.
“Are you? Because you don’t seem to be,” Siegfried replied, turning back to Winstanley.
“Our Ethel’s got a sore foot,” the man explained. “And our Gladys has got a sore wing.”
“Has to be said their wings and feet all looked fine as they invaded my hallway,” Siegfried told him with a smile. “But let’s take a look. Herriot, why don’t you take Gladys and I’ll take Ethel?”

James was clearly unhappy, but he did as instructed, and within half an hour Mr Winstanley, Ethel and Gladys were all on their way home. When the door closed, however, James turned to Siegfried with a glare.

“That was my case!”
“James, whilst I appreciate it’s annoying to not get to follow through our cases,” Siegfried said, trying to choose his words carefully for once, “Mr Winstanley didn’t really seem to have much faith in your ability to handle his prize girls. I thought it best to assist and then we could get them home before they escaped again. And it’s not like I kicked you out. We worked as a team.”
“You had no right!” James exclaimed.
“He had every right,” Audrey piped up, from where she was cleaning in the sitting room, taking both men by surprise. “You know me, and you know that I will tell any one of you if I think you’re being daft. Mr Farnon gets me telling him off plenty.”
“Very true,” Siegfried chuckled.
“But in this case he were right,” she continued, turning to James. “These people pay you lot to take care of their animals. If they don’t think you can do it they’ll take that money to Pandhi or whoever else they can find. And given I had to help you get Gladys, or whoever, back into the blooming exam room, I think it’s fair to say Mr Farnon were only doing some much needed damage control. Just take it on the chin and move on.”

James looked shocked, to say the least, at Audrey’s telling off, and finally simply turned and walked away in a huff, heading up the stairs, presumably hoping for more kindness from his wife and children in the bedsit.

Once he was gone, Siegfried turned to Audrey and smiled in a way she’d never seen him smile before. His eyes were darker than usual, and something told her she was about to find out why.

“Back up, Mrs Hall,” he said in a low gravelly voice. “I think I’ve just worked out who the mistletoe is for.”
“Oh aye?” Audrey giggled.
“Aye,” he nodded, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing her knuckles. “You have never been more gorgeous… and you are always gorgeous, Mrs Hall.”
“If you say so,” she smiled, glancing up at the mistletoe. “Well, you’ve got me here… what are you going to do now?”
“Unless you tell me to stop… I’m going to kiss you,” Siegfried grinned, leaning in very slowly. “Are you going to tell me to stop?”
“Wasn’t planning to,” Audrey replied, pushing up onto her toes until their lips touched. “Mmm… I love mistletoe.”
“It’s growing on me,” he agreed.
“Like a parasite?” Audrey giggled.
“Behave,” Siegfried smiled, pulling her into his arms. “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you? It’s been 8 years!”
“Well, I’m just glad you’re chatting up the right woman this year,” she beamed.
“So am I,” Siegfried agreed, placing a quick kiss on her lips. “So am I.”

Chapter Text

1am Christmas Day

Little Jimmy Herriot snuck out of the bedsit and crept down the stairs into the belly of Skeldale House. His parents and sister were fast asleep, as was everybody else based on the snoring, gentle and not so gentle, that he could hear coming from the other rooms on the upper floor. How they couldn’t hear it, he didn’t know, but he certainly could, and he was going to investigate.

The sound of jingle bells had started about 5 minutes earlier, waking him from his slumber, and he just couldn’t ignore them. He had to go and find out if the bells belonged to who he thought they might belong to. The man himself. The big man in red (or green if Uncle Siegfried was to be believed). St Nicholas. Santa Claus. Father Christmas!

At the bottom of the stairs, he could still hear the bells. They were louder than ever, and seemed to be coming from the living room, and so that was where he went. His stocking feet made no sound on the floor as he moved, and so he hoped to take whoever it was by surprise.

When he reached the door of the sitting room, Jimmy stopped in amazement. Sitting in Uncle Siegfried’s chair, wearing a green and white trimmed suit, was a large white haired and largely bearded man. He wore small glasses, perched on the end of his nose, and had a large bulging bag by his side. Right now, however, he wasn’t paying any attention to the bag. Instead, he was being greeted enthusiastically by Jess and Dash.

“Uncle Siegfried?” Jimmy asked.
“Oh! Hello, young man!” the large gentleman replied in an accent Jimmy had never heard before. “And who are you? Hold on, no, don’t tell me. Let me see if my bag of presents can help me out… Well, I assume you’re not Siegfried.”
“No,” Jimmy replied.
“And you certainly don’t look like a Rosie or an Audrey or a Helen.”
“No,” Jimmy giggled.
“So you must either be James or Jimmy then,” the man said. “I’m going to guess you’re a Jimmy.”
“I am,” Jimmy nodded. “You know who I am, Uncle Siegfried!”
“Young man, I am not your Uncle Siegfried,” he replied. “I am Father Christmas. Some people call me other names, but I think in this house I’m Father Christmas.”
“But… the green suit. That’s what Uncle Siegfried wears when he’s being Father Christmas,” Jimmy frowned.
“Sounds like a smart man, that Uncle Siegfried,” Father Christmas smiled. “And you obviously like him.”
“He’s my godfather,” Jimmy nodded, tentatively eyeing up the man before finally concluding that he was not, in fact, Siegfried. “He teaches me about animals. He’s got pet rats.”
“Ooh, fascinating!”
“Come and see.”

Jimmy led Father Christmas through to the study and over to the two rat cages. The jolly old man gleefully greeted the two rats before digging into his pocket and pulling out two pieces of cheese for them.

“They’ll love you for that,” Jimmy chuckled. “That’s Gerald, and that’s Carmody.”
“Carmody? Funny name,” Father Christmas replied.
“He used to work here. Uncle Siegfried misses him.”
“And Gerald?”
“Uncle Siegfried don’t miss him,” Jimmy giggled. “He were Aunty Audrey’s fella. He had a moustache like rat Gerald. I think Uncle Siegfried thought it were funny.”
“Uncle Siegfried sounds like a funny man,” Father Christmas replied.
“He is. He’s proper funny. Mum also thinks he’s funny, but not in’t same way, I don’t think. Have you got presents for everybody?”
“I have,” he nodded. “Everybody in the world. It’s quite a task.”
“I’ll bet,” Jimmy agreed. “Mum sent me and dad to deliver half a dozen cards last week and it took us ages!”
“Well, I have my ways and means,” Father Christmas winked, leading him to the window and pointing out to where a sleigh sat in the village square, harnessed up to a set of reindeer.
“Wow! I’ve never seen reindeer before!”
“They’re very hard workers,” he replied. “And unfortunately I must get back to them. But, it was lovely to meet you, young Master Jimmy. Have a wonderful day with your family tomorrow, and a wonderful new year.”
“You too,” Jimmy smiled, shaking the old man’s hand. “Careful how you go. It’s reyt cold out there.”
“Thank you,” Father Christmas chuckled. “I very much appreciate your kindness. And now, a merry Christmas to all.”
“And to all a good night,” Jimmy concluded. “Goodnight. Safe trip.”

In the blink of an eye, the old man vanished. The dogs looked around in confusion, before returning to their warm spot by the fire, and when Jimmy looked out of the window it was just in time to see the sleigh and reindeer disappear in a sparkle of lights and a jingle of bells.

“Jimmy? What an earth are you doing up at this time?”

Jimmy turned to see a tired looking Siegfried standing in the doorway. He didn’t look annoyed, just exhausted, but he smiled sweetly at his godson all the same.

“You shouldn’t be up,” he told him. “How on earth is Father Christmas supposed to visit if you won’t go to sleep?”
“But he’s already been!” Jimmy said, pointing to a new pile of presents by the tree. “And, Uncle Siegfried, you were right! He wears green!”
“What are you talking about?” Siegfried asked in tired confusion.
“Come with me.”

Jimmy took Siegfried by the hand and dragged him into the study, where Gerald and Carmody were still chomping on their pieces of cheese.

“Aunty Audrey will kill the pair of us if she knows my rats are eating her cheese!” Siegfried hissed.
“It’s not her cheese,” Jimmy insisted. “Father Christmas gave it to them. He were reyt taken with ‘em. I thought he were you at first, but he weren’t. He had a sleigh and reindeer out on the square.”
“No, he wasn’t me. I was fast asleep,” Siegfried replied in confusion. “I think you should go back to bed, Jimmy. You want to be well-rested for Christmas Day. Go on, off you go.”
“Alright,” Jimmy nodded, throwing his arms around him. “Love you, Uncle Siegfried.”
“I love you too, Jimmy.”

Siegfried watched as Jimmy rushed off up the stairs, and then he quickly glanced into the sitting room at the pile of presents. They weren’t there when he’d gone to bed, that was for sure. Finally he walked through to the kitchen, and into the pantry. Sure enough, Audrey’s block of cheese was untouched. Not so much as a scratch in it.

It was ridiculous to even consider that the boy could be right, but if he wasn’t there were some mysteries for sure. Stepping out of the back door, he wrapped his dressing gown tightly around himself and walked out to the square. It was empty, but suddenly he spotted something and walked over to it. Lying on the ground was a small bell, and when he picked it up he noticed a name on it: Dasher.

“Don’t be daft, Farnon,” he cursed himself, placing the bell into the pocket of his dressing gown . “There is no such man as Father Christmas. The boy was dreaming. Go to bed.”

And so, Siegfried returned to the house and went to bed. It wasn’t until the next morning, when he once again pulled on his gown, that he heard the jingling of the bell in the pocket and remembered. And a part of him, a tiny, normally well-hidden part, wondered if Jimmy really had met the man himself last night…

Chapter Text

Siegfried was finding himself distracted. There was something about this Christmas Eve that was bothering him. Was it Deja vu? Maybe it was. Everything seemed oddly similar, and not just because finally the Skeldale Christmas party was back. It was all just… very familiar.

He had dressed up in his green Santa suit for the first time in years, the Wensleydale wool beard itching away at his chin. The children had loved meeting him, and he them. Especially Jimmy and Rosie, the apples of his eye. He might have given them slightly bigger gifts than the other children… but nobody would ever know.

Then there was the company. Dorothy was back. A shock, to say the least, to have her back from Malta without a word of forewarning, but it was good to see Mrs Hall happily chatting and laughing with her friend. With Edward not visiting until new year, it had been good for her to have a distraction. Not that Siegfried had been immune from distraction. Far from it. And yes, that too was familiar.

“Have you seen Tris?” James asked, walking up to Siegfried as he stood by the stairwell, deep in thought.
“Err… no, actually,” Siegfried answered. “Now I think about it, I haven’t seen him for a while. He went outside, last I saw him, I think. Why?”
“Just wondered. Jimmy and Rosie are about to go to bed. They wondered where Uncle Tris was.”
“I’ll go out and see if he’s still out there,” Siegfried smiled. “And if he’s not I will happily have hugs for two from my godchildren.”

When Siegfried went outside he didn’t think anybody was there, but then he spotted a light coming from the barn. One of the many joys of the war ending was that lights could now be visibly on, and tonight it was a definite blessing.

On walking into the barn, Siegfried found Tristan sitting miserably on a bale of hay, idly scratching the nose of a donkey who was currently an inpatient at Skeldale. The donkey seemed to be enjoying the attention, far more than Tristan seemed to be enjoying his evening.

“Little brother?” Siegfried said tentatively. “Is something wrong? Jimmy and Rosie are off to bed and wondering where Uncle Tris has got to.”
“Oh,” Tristan replied. “How long have I been out here?”
“Not sure. Quite a while though. I rather lost track of time, to be honest. What’s wrong?”
“I, err… I think I want to marry Charlotte.”
“Well that’s wonderful,” Siegfried smiled. “She’s a fabulous girl… Why is this making you sad? Did she turn you down?”
“No, I haven’t asked her yet,” Tristan answered with a sigh. “It’s just… last time I proposed to a girl it didn’t go well.”
“Tristan, dear boy, the last time you proposed it was in a panic, and you proposed with a split-ring to a girl you hardly knew,” Siegfried chuckled. “You are absolutely not in that position right now. You and Charlotte seem perfectly suited for each other, you’ve taken the time to get to know each other, and you’re putting thought into it.”
“But what if she says no?”
“You won’t know unless you ask,” Siegfried said gently. “And Charlotte is a smart and sensible girl. I think even if she said she wasn’t ready, you could both move past that just fine. Maybe you should just talk to her though. You seem good at talking.”
“Maybe,” Tristan nodded. “Do you remember… the mask? The one you gave me when I was a child?”
“I do,” Siegfried smiled. “I may have a spare, if you’ve misplaced the old one.”

Tristan finally turned to his brother and smiled, and Siegfried gently pulled him into a light embrace. Then, reaching into his pocket, he pulled out another ‘mask’ and placed it carefully over his brother’s face.

“There you are,” he told him. “Fits you perfectly.”
“Thank you,” Tristan replied with a chuckle. “What about you? Dorothy?”
“She’s a friend,” Siegfried said. “Nothing more.”
“Why not?”
“Because… I have somebody else in mind.”
“Ah,” Tristan smiled. “I see.”
“Do you?”
“I do,” he nodded, checking his watch. “And at this time, she’ll be heading off to church for midnight mass.”

By the time Siegfried and Tristan got back into the house, Audrey had already set off for church. Jimmy and Rosie came back downstairs to say goodbye to the Farnon brothers, and then the two men went their separate ways. Tristan drove off to find Charlotte, and Siegfried made his way out to say goodnight to Dorothy.

“Seems we’ve been here before,” Dorothy said with a smile as he walked her to her car.
“Yes,” Siegfried chuckled. “And I think we both know it’s going to end the same way.”
“I’m not going back to Malta,” Dorothy told him. “But you are going after Aud, aren’t you?”
“I am,” he nodded. “Any advice?”
“You know her better than I do these days,” she smiled. “And she loves you for exactly who you are. Just do what I asked you to do last time - look after her.”
“I will,” Siegfried replied. “I promise.”
“I believe you,” Dorothy told him, leaning in and placing a kiss on his cheek. “Merry Christmas, Siegfried. Maybe I’ll see you at the wedding.”

Siegfried chuckled and then, after waving Dorothy off, he wrapped his coat tightly around himself, put on his hat, and then walked off to the church. It was a cold night, but dry and clear, and the walk to the church was quite pleasant. If nothing else it helped to clear his mind of the fog his distracted thoughts had created

He could hear singing coming from the church as he approached. One year maybe he would come to midnight mass and not turn up half way through, he chuckled. Maybe once he and Audrey were an actual couple she would force him to attend on time.

Once inside the church, he located Audrey on the front row, singing loudly, and then carefully made his way towards her. When she saw him sidling along the aisle towards her she looked at him quizzically, but when he gently reached out and took her hand she smiled broadly.

“You’re late,” she whispered as they sat down at the end of the carol.
“Better late than never,” Siegfried replied, squeezing her hand. “Merry Christmas, my darling.”
“Merry Christmas, love,” Audrey beamed. “Are you my Christmas present?”
“If you want me, yes,” he nodded.
“I do,” she replied, wiping a tear from her eye. “I definitely do.”
“Then that is the best gift I could receive,” Siegfried told her with a broad smile. “I love you, Audrey.”
“I love you too, Siegfried,” she told him. “And I think this might be the best Christmas ever.”