Surrogate in Love - Richard Madden

Chapter 10: Christmas Eve Suprise

Once the meal was over and we were all stuffed we headed over to the living room. I swear the bump had doubled in size with the meal and I had to waddle my way to the living room slowly so I didn't burst. Harrison and Tom both tried to help each other walk since they had quite a lot to drink. I was surprised that they were walking at all. Once in the living room, we all spread out and found our places for the evening. I took the love seat to myself, Tom, Harrison, and Jess found the first sofa whilst the other holland brothers found the second sofa. Taron found his spot on the floor where my feet would have been if I hadn't pulled them up by the side of me. we sat for a good half an hour in silence whilst 'Elf' played in the background. Eventually, conversations slowly started to arise everyone getting slightly more excited for the day ahead as the hour went on. At around 10 to 9, there was a knock on the door. Whilst I was sat at the window seat I still couldn't see the door so went to get up but found that increasingly difficult with my legs dead by the side of me and the bump inconveniently in the way. Before I could make it to my feet Harrison jumped up from beside Tom and went to open the door. I could hear muffled voices but I could quite tell who the other voice was with all the sound coming from the room I was in. after what felt like forever Harrison walked back into the living room with the biggest grin on his face. There's someone here for you Ris" I looked around and everybody was staring and smirking at me waiting for the reaction when the person walked in. it was clear that everybody else knew who was in the hallway. And then he walked in. the man I thought I wouldn't be seeing for a few days, the man I thought was on a plane back to his family.

"Richard?" I whispered almost not believing what I was seeing. My body finally took over and I tried to get up, with a little help from Taron in front of me. "Richard!" I screamed a second time now fully comprehending what I was seeing. I walked as fast as I could and took him in my arms. He just held me as I silently cried a few tears. I honestly thought he wouldn't be coming until the day after boxing day so for him to be there was the biggest surprise I could imagine.

"Hello, darling" he whispered in my ear. I was truly shocked that he was here.

"I thought you were going home for Christmas?" I asked suddenly realizing that he wasn't going to be in Scotland with his family for Christmas.

"I have something more worthwhile here," he said for only me to hear. I eventually let him go and let everyone have their turn in welcoming him and wishing him a merry Christmas eve. We went back to the sitting arrangements but this time I was sat with my head on Richards's chest and both our legs were swung over the side of the chair. His hands both grasped mine and lay on the top of my bump. We sat all sat there watching TV and talking until around 11 the first of the group started to trickle out. By 11.30 everyone except me and Richard was in bed. I lifted my head to look Richard in the eyes for the first time since he had arrived. The familiar warmth found its way into my stomach.

"thank you for coming, best Christmas surprise ever," I said to him in a hushed voice. While everyone was in bed it wasn't clear who was still awake or not. He just leaned down and kissed my forehead as a reply and we went back to watching It's a Wonderful Life I took a second to look outside and that's when I noticed the flurry of snow that was falling.

"OMG RICHARD ITS SNOWING" I couldn't take my eyes off the beautiful sight. The snow was rare in London at the nest of times let alone on Christmas eve. I could see out of the corner of my eye Richard smiling down at me. I felt the weight under me move until he was stood in front of the chair.

"come on," he said. I looked up at him confused. What was he planning?

"why where we going?" I asked him. He took my hand and guided me up and we headed towards the back door.

"to see the snow of course" he picked up the two coats that were in the hallway and we made our way out the door. I walked towards the middle of the garden and looked up at the sky. A lot of the snow had already stuck and there was a sheet of white around us.

"you know snow absorbs sound. That's why it is always so quiet when it snows" he looked at me and smiled so I carried on talking "my grandad used to say that snow was angels way of saying that they are with us. He would say they would send the snow to remind us of the beauty the world can give us... I miss him" at that Richard walked up to me and took my hand. He pulled me into his side and held me there for a few moments before talking again.

"seems he was a very clever man" it was a simple sentence but it meant to the world to me. I just held my head on his chest, the height difference being very useful at this moment, he just held my hand in one and held my back in the other hand and we swayed slightly. It was a beautiful moment.

"he was" was all I could muster through the small sobs that escaped my mouth. We stayed like that for a few minutes before I started to shiver and Richard took that as a sign that we should go back inside. He didn't let go of my hand as he led me back through to the kitchen of Holland's house. As we were walking through the kitchen I noticed the time on the oven and realized we had been out for longer than we thought. I stopped abruptly and since we were still holding hands it made Richard stop as well.

"it's midnight Rich, Merry Christmas," I said to him and pulled him into another hug. He looked down at me and smiled.

"Merry Christmas Ris" he replied and then I did something I didn't have a chance to stop myself doing. I leaned up and I kissed him. It was a soft, slow kiss and he took a second before he started to kiss back. We both pulled away and I panicked for a few seconds. Lots of thoughts ran through my mind and I honestly thought I had fucked everything up. I went to pull away but Richard pulled me back and kissed me again. This time it was more strong and forceful when he pulled away it left me wanting more. There was a grin on his face and I couldn't help but grin back. It was crazy that that had just happened.

We both pulled away and Richard turned to go back upstairs. Before he did though he turned and leaned down to whisper in my ear.

"best Christmas eve surprise ever" his Scottish accent was strong and I could tell he was tired. With that, he left the room and made his way up to his room. Blue padded up after him probably headed to Paddy's room since the two were inseparable when they were together.

I placed my hand on my bump to help steady my breathing and then made my way up to my room. I changed and wore the top that Richard had given me which was already tighter than when I wore it before. And got into bed. I closed my eyes and for the first time in a while, I slept the best I had in a while and that was because I spent the whole night dreaming of the Scottish man I had fallen for.