Chapter Text
It was a cold, crisp wintry morning in the village. Warm vapour from passing villagers breath colliding with the frosty air, Christmas decorations hanging from every lamp post making a zigzag patterns across the village. Then the 10ft Christmas tree which looked spectacular especially when it was lit up during the early dark nights. This year was a woodland themed Christmas which made the small streets look warm, welcoming and wonderful.
Considering how quiet it was outside, it wasn't so quiet in the Dingle/ Woodfield household. It's 7:30am, Johnny and Moses are awake, running around their shared bedroom acting as if they were having a sugar rush. "IT'S CHRISTMAS!" exclaimed Moses.
Whilst Johnny and Moses were jumping on their beds with excitement, Charity and Vanessa were still unconscious in a sleep from the night before.
Flashback to Christmas eve when the streets were full of the locals last minute shopping for gifts and food, visiting family and friends, and others making the most of the festivities by getting smashed in the Woolpack.
With Christmas eve being one of the most busiest day around that time of the year, Chas and Bob took the early shift from opening time until 6, and then Charity and would takeover until closing time at midnight. It was packed out through out the day with Marlon running around like a lanky headless chicken cooking up food for the customers by himself whilst Victoria was on maternity leave.
While Vanessa was at the vets dealing with some last minute appointments, this gave Charity time to pop into town to get one last present for Vanessa. This present was going to be a special surprise which would put the cherry on top of the cake.
Charity got the kids ready to drop them off at Tracy's before heading off. *Knock knock* Tracy opens the door to Tug ghyll. "Hi Charity, what are you doing here so early? I thought you were dropping these little munchkins off later." Tracy said. "Oh well I was but, I just remembered I need to pop to town to pick up a last minute present". Charity explained inching away from the front door. "You don't have to go out of your way to buy your girlfriends sister an expensive gift" Tracy winks jokingly. "In your dreams". "Aren't charities supposed to give around this time of year?" Tracy said, laughing at her own joke. Charity rolls her eyes "See you later boys, have a great day with auntie Tracy", Charity turns on her heel heading for her car.
When Charity was belted up, before she set off she couldn't help but send a text to Vanessa because she was missing her, even though they'd only just seen each other 20 minutes earlier. "Miss you so much already babe, can't wait to see you beautiful face later. I love you so much Ness. I'm so lucky to have you in my life xx".
*Ding* Vanessa gets a text through, she looks at her phone to see Charity's sweet message. "Awwww you're so cute! I miss you too. I'm the lucky one who managed to keep you interested ;) I love you too. I hope you have a great day with the boys xx".
Vanessa and Rhona were out on an emergency call from a farmer who's cow had got stuck in a ditch. From all the rain and frost they'd have the past couple of weeks, the fields had been an absolute muddy mess, especially from all the cattle trampling up the green grass into a marshland. Due to the cow struggling to release itself, it was getting restless.
They arrive to see the cow is in distress so they give it a sedative to calm it down whilst they dig around the cows hooves and put wooden planks down. They manage to dig low enough to see all 4 hooves and put wooden planks around for it to walk on. They had to give the cow a bit of a nudge to get it moving. Whilst doing this, the cow moved leaving Vanessa unable to gain her balance and BOOM! she falls flat on her face in the ditch. Rhona and the farmer look at each other and start laughing, they see Vanessa struggling to get up so they help pull her out.
Pulling herself to her feet "What you laughing at? It's not funny, I'm ditched" Vanessa said unamused. Her face, hair and entire front of her body was covered in thick, sludged mud and manure. Rhona takes out her phone, "I've got to take a picture of this" giggling with amusement. Vanessa had a face of thunder, wiping the mud from her face with her hands.
With the experience Vanessa just had Rhona decided to let Vanessa go home. There was only one appointment left for the day which Rhona didn't mind covering. "Merry Christmas Ness! Don't be fooling around in anymore ditches" making herself entertained. "HA HA" Vanessa says sarcastically. "Right, well thanks for letting me bunk off earlier. It's going to take me double the time to clean all this off ready for tonight." Pointing to the state she was in. They both laughed and went their separate ways.
Charity arrives in town with one place on her mind. The jewellery store. And no, she surprisingly wasn't going in there to treat herself, she was going to find a perfect engagement ring for the woman who she completely and utterly adores, Vanessa. Before she gets out of her car she checks her phone to see a reply from Vanessa, she smiles big at her screen and exits the vehicle. and approaches the store.