Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Happy New Year

The eyes that had originally focused on her as she entered the pub had now drifted onto other things. The gossiping of what had been going on between them changing into fresh conversations not involving them.

Connie had found herself at ease as Jacob placed a warm hand to the small of her back passing her a glass. "You know... Not everyone thinks that this an impossible combination." She smirked glancing up at him as he rubbed his hand up and down her back soothingly. "Mum can I get a drink?" "I'll get you one firecracker, come on."

He nodded his head towards the bar as Grave jumped down from the stool and walked away with Jacob. Connie was sat alone for only seconds as Charlie stepped towards her with a smile. "I wasn't sure if I'd see you here tonight." "Yeah, well Grace and Jacob really wanted to do something. Couldn't really say no to them, could I?"

Charlie smirked as he took a seat beside Connie. "How are you?" "I'm good... I'm struggling to accept she's leaving again in a few days. I don't know where the time with her has gone." He reached a hand forwards placing it over hers, a comfort that only he seemed to be able to provide her with. "Thank you-" "You never have to thank me, you know that."

Connie lifted her eyes and smiled warmly at the older man as Jacob wandered back with Grace. She turned her head to see them as Grace hugged into Charlie's side. "Hey Charlie-" "Hi Grace, I hear you're to thank for getting your Mum out tonight." She nodded with a wide smile as Connie smirked down at her.

Most of the ED staff had come out tonight and were here waiting to count in the new year together. "Grace if you start getting tired than tell me and I'll take you home-" "I'll be fine Mum!" She gave her a knowing glance as Grace tried to hide the hint of tiredness from her face already. "Whatever you say sweetie..."

Jacob stood behind Connie and snaked his arms around her waist. She found herself leaning back into his chest with a smile as he leant his chin on her shoulder. "Having fun sweet cheeks?" "I suppose it beats sitting at home all evening." She smiled turning to see him and pushed her lips to his gently. He smiled against her lips as he responded to her kiss before they parted.

Another hour went by and there was still over an hour until it was officially the new year. Connie looked up to see that Grace had moved onto the sofa along the wall. Her head rest against the pile of coats that had been placed there, and she was now covered with another jacket to keep her warm. Connie arched a brow as Jacob held his hands up in surrender crossing the room back to her.

"I told her if she was tired that I'd take her home, not that you'd settle her on the sofa to sleep." She folded her arms against his chest as he walked up to her reaching his arms to her hips. "Surely one night isn't going to matter... At least this way we can all stay for the fireworks later. Besides it's not too long now, come on sweet cheeks lighten up for one evening." "I do not need to lighten up."

Jacob mimicked her expression folding his arms against his chest. "Prove it." "What?" She sounded astounded as he nodded. "You heard. Prove it." "How?" He held her hands pulling her down from the chair she sat on and began to dance around with her. "Jacob. Jacob absolutely no chance, no way!" "You want to prove me wrong, dance with me... Uh, someone has already offered to watch over Grace so you have nothing holding you back."

Rolling her eyes she let Jacob pull her into his chest dancing closely to her. Connie dropped her head backwards before he laughed, his fingers lacing through hers. Several people had moved to dance along the more open side of the bar meaning there wasn't an awful lot of room to move around.

Jacob dropped his hands to her waist as Connie wrapped her arms loosely around his neck. They danced together as the time passed, her laughter enough to put a wide smile on his face. "Move in with me." Jacob frowned thinking he had misheard the words she had blurted out quickly. "What?" Connie suddenly felt conscious of what she was asking and tried to take a step away.

He refused to let her go, instead kept hold of her gently and lifted a hand to her cheek. Connie sighed letting her eyes fall to the small space between them. "I don't want to go back to the empty house at nights, or the feeling like I could lose you to someone else... I want to know that after every bad day I can come home to something good."

Connie let her eyes lift to his once more seeing the smile that reached them. "You want me to live with you?" Nodding quietly she smiled slightly. "Yeah... Yeah I do." He leant closer still caressing her cheek as he pushed his lips against hers. Connie breathed in before responding to him as she moved her hands around his neck.

Eyes rested on them all around before Cal began to whistle from the bar. Connie broke from his lips and pushed her head to his chest while Jacob hugged her tightly with a wide grin glancing to Cal. Grace quickly came running over to them pulling on their hands. "Come on, come on!" "Woah Gracie where are we going?" "We're gonna miss the fireworks, come on!"

She laughed letting her daughter pull her through the crowds of people, Jacob's hands on her waist from behind. Pressing his chest against her back he stopped when they were stood outside at the front of the crowd of people, a countdown already begun.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

Charlie stood with an arm around Duffy, the pair watching the three of them stumble into the garden together looking happier than they could ever remember them. Alicia stood in the arms of Ethan as they smiled and shouted ready to see the end of another year. Robyn stood with a hand placed to her stomach while Max came out and wrapped an arm around her shoulders smiling.

David sat at a bench with his son beside him, looking down he watched the interest grow on his small features. Cal, Jez and Louise remained to one side but watched just as amused as everyone else. Lily stood alone looking down at her hands quickly before someone wandered through the crowds of staff to stop beside her. Ian's smile bought a new look to her face as he moved his arm around her shoulders with a smirk.

Jacob laced his hands through Connie's as the countdown continued, their fingers entwined as she looked to him quickly. Grace took hold of Connie's other hand and the involuntary smile came to her face once more. Looking up to the sky they joined in before the garden erupted into cheers and shouting before the bangs of the fireworks drowned out their noise.

"Happy New Year Mrs Beauchamp." "Happy New Year Staff Nurse Masters." His hand pushed into her gently as he claimed her lips softly. Connie placed a hand to the back of his neck responding to his touch briefly forgetting about Grace who stood beside them.

A rise in the noise from people surrounding them broke them apart with smiles. Connie saw Grace watching them before she pulled her into a hug. "I love you sweetheart." "Happy new year Mum... I know it's a long time yet, but I want to come home for summer. With you and Jacob." Connie smiled down at her. "He will still be here, won't he?" She lifted her eyes to Jacob and nodded. "I think you'll struggle to ever get rid of him."

Grace laughed before hugging her once again. It had been a long time since Connie say she was happy, but standing outside in the cold, surrounded by the people she worked with, she could honestly say she was happier than she had ever been.

A/N - The final chapter of this! Thank you for reading it, I had always planned on it being something that would just last my Christmas break but I'm glad people seemed to enjoy it. Thank you for all of your comments! ~ Laura