mouse | eastenders

→ a christmas to remember

Christmas this year had already been eventful. It had started off fun and lighthearted, opening presents in the morning, feeling cosy in her pyjamas. Lucy was very happy with the books she had been gifted as well as her very own cd player, but there was never a drama free day in Albert Square.

Lucy's grandfather Stan had invited round his 'special friend', Cora. Although things between them seemed to be going well from what Lucy had caught onto, the wintery scene he had made for Cora in the barrel store didn't seem to be enough for her jealousy when Sylvie arrived. What a way to meet her grandmother! Lucy had tried talking to Sylvie but all she seemed to get was a blank look and an awkward pat on the hand.

"Maybe I should go get them?" Lee sat up in his seat, ready to go fetch their parents who had been upstairs for a long time.

"Yeah, we can't start dinner without them," Lucy added on.

"No, no, just wait," Nancy insisted, putting party poppers out on the table amongst their other family members who were sat down; Tina, Aunt Babe, Sylvie, Stan and the addition of Cora. Her cousin Dean was somewhere but he hadn't been downstairs in a while, his supposedly drunken disappearance making Shirley go after him.

Lucy was also missing her other older brother Johnny. The silver lining was that they got to quickly video call him earlier on in the day but it didn't feel the same.

"Why wait? The food's getting cold," Stan grumbled from one end of the table, bushy white eyebrows set into a frown.

"Because, Dad is proposing," Nancy grinned.

"Really? Finally," Lucy sat up excitedly, making a few of the Carters around the table let out a laugh. Lee, who was sat next to her, ruffled her hair teasingly.

That joyous atmosphere seemed to dull bit by bit as Mick and Linda finally came downstairs, which was strange, because being proposed to should be one of the happiest moments of your life, right? Lucy thought so anyways, especially as her parents had this fairytale relationship that her 12 year old self could only dream of for her own future.

"Now!" Nancy announced and everyone popped their party poppers in celebration.

Mick and Linda wore false smiles, their happiness not reaching the numb looks in their eyes.

"So, let's see the ring," Nancy and Tina approached Linda.

"Can I see too?" Lucy squeezed through, wanting to see.

Mick pulled the ring out of his pocket, a lookalike of the Princess Diana ring Linda already had yet it had real sapphires this time. Lucy's eyes scanned her mum's reaction, seeing that she seemed shocked too.

"Wow, look at that," Tina admired the ring.

"It's so pretty," Lucy murmured in awe, the rich tones of sapphire reflecting against her own blue eyes she had inherited from Linda.

Soon everyone was sat down once again, Lucy opposite her sister and between Lee and Aunt Babe. Everyone faced Stan as he made a speech, a quite sad one, in Lucy's opinion, as he solemnly mentioned about it being his last Christmas. He also had a lot of lovely things to say about her dad, reflecting on how Mick had taught him a lot about the importance of family, ending with a toast.

Things had seemed like they had finally calmed down, Lucy finding herself feeling more relaxed as she was about to say her cracker joke. That was until Shirley stormed in, a face of thunder and that iconic eyeliner framing the determination she held in her eyes.

"Mick I want a word with you outside," Shirley suddenly announced, not caring for anyone else around her. Lucy watched as her mum stood up quickly, worry written all over her face.