Will fell backwards onto his bed, smiling as he imagined Emma getting all dolled up to go out. Groaning as he realised that he still had to get changed and was running very late, he rolled to the side and grabbed his clothes that he’d looked out that morning. Standing in front of the bathroom mirror ten minutes later, he tugged at his new, crisp shirt and checked his hair for the umpteenth time. Running a finger along his teeth he grimaced and reached for his toothbrush again, he shouldn’t have eaten that bread at lunchtime; he still had poppy seeds stuck between his teeth!

Finally happy with his appearance, Will strode over to the door and locked up behind him. Feeling the palms of his hands begin to prickle as he wondered where the night would take him. Meanwhile across the city, Emma too was pondering the same thought as she stood in her underwear, in front of her floor length mirror removing the curlers from her freshly washed hair.

Dancing about to the radio that was on full blast Emma picked up her hairbrush and mimed in front of the mirror, laughing as she caught sight of herself, throwing the brush across the room and shimmying back over to her dressing table where her make up was all laid out. “Eyeliner, eye shadow, lip gloss.” She checked off on her fingers as she fluffed up her hair so it bounced around her slender shoulders.

Finally, turning back across to her wardrobe she smiled as she saw her dress hanging there, just as she’d left it. Taking it down off the hanger she shivered as the silky fabric brushed her skin as she slid it down over her head, letting it cling to her curves and billow out around her knees. Twirling round in it, it followed her, the skirt encircling her legs and shimmering in the light. Preening in the mirror she stepped into a pair of silver baby doll pumps and gave her hair one last flick before she left her bedroom, picking up her phone and bag on the way down the stairs.

Will leant forwards in his seat, grabbing his drink off the table before he continued chatting away to Dan. “So…what do you think of Honey’s dress?” Dan asked casually as he clapped eyes on the bubbly blonde who was dancing animatedly with Beth, laughing as one of her favourite songs came over the sound speakers.

“Yeah the guys were right…stylish…yet slutty.” Will said getting an elbow in the ribs from Dan. “But yeah, she looks hot anyway.” He added as he watched her spin round and round, still laughing her head off, her raspberry pink halter neck dress attracting a lot of male attention.

“Speaking of hot.” Dan muttered, nudging him so he, along with just about everyone else in the room turned to face the doors in between which Emma was standing, transformed from her normal day to day self into what could only be described as stunningly beautiful. Tucking her hair behind her ear shyly as she avoided everyone’s eyes, she wound her way through the crowd of dancing officers and sank down into a seat, a few away from where Will and Dan were sitting with their mouths still hanging open in shock.

“Biatch!” Honey squealed as she launched herself in Emma’s direction. “You said you weren’t wearing anything special!”

“He he…yeah I lied Hon.” Emma giggled at her ditzy friend. “Wow I love your dress it’s gorgeous.” She added seeing Honey’s own dress for the first time, and it was true, she did look fabulous in it. “Dan’ll be droolin’ all over ya.” She whispered discreetly in Honey’s ear making her blush and giggle.

“Come on, dance with me.” Honey demanded, pulling Emma up by the arm and marching her back to where Beth and Sally were standing gossiping by the drinks table. Just as they’d hugged each other, they all fell apart laughing as Groove Armada I See You Baby blasted around them, everybody turning to see the four girls all standing holding onto each other so they didn’t fall over they were laughing so hard.

“Good old Friday nights.” Beth smirked as Honey dragged them all into the centre of the make-shift dance floor and they began showing off the moves that Sally had taught them on night in front of the TV with the music channels up full blast, and a lot of vodka flowing through their systems.

I see you, baby, shakin' that ass
Shakin' that ass
Shakin' that ass

The other officers all laughed along with the girls, shaking their heads and smiling as the four friends shimmied, sashayed and shaked around each other until the song finished and they collapsed in a heap by the table again. “Told you…it would…come in…handy.” Sally giggled in between deep breaths as she flopped over the side of the sinky armchair that had been dragged along from the soft interview room.

“I left my Ipod in my locker…I’ll be back in a minute mate.” Will muttered to Dan as he stood up, being in such close proximity with Emma was making him feel dizzy. Her arm slipped from his as he stood up, alerting her to his disappearance. Looking back quickly so people wouldn’t think she was obsessed with him, Emma locked eyes with Honey who was discreetly tilting her head towards the door, indication that Emma should follow him, wherever he’d gone to.

“I…I’m going to the loo.” Emma announced as she too got up from her chair and quickly left the canteen which after Reg’s decorating was practically unrecognisable. Running along the corridor and feeling very thankful that she’d chosen not to wear heels, Emma turned the corner just in time to see Will vanish from sight into the male locker room. Pausing outside Emma chewed her lip nervously before deciding to be bold and pushing the door forcefully open, starling Will who was standing facing his locker, a photo clutched in his hands.

“So…this is where you escaped to then.” Emma said softly as she took a few steps into the room.

“I…uh…I wasn’t…I mean…I uh yeah…I guess so.” Will stammered, trying to hide the picture back in his locked but Emma had already reached his side and her fingers had closed tightly round his wrist, pulling it back up towards her so she could reach out and take the picture from him.

Emma smiled as she saw herself, Lewis, Will, Honey and Dan all standing with their arms wrapped around each other at the Christmas Party from two years before, in the background was a huge sparkly banner and each of them looked as though they were so happy they could have burst right there and then. Emma’s eyes continued to scan the picture, Lewis’s eyes twinkled as he grinned cheekily at the person taking the photo, Honey and Dan’s hands were entwined and Will’s arm was wrapped securely round Emma’s waist. “Good times.” She murmured and he smiled down at the top of her head, taking the picture from her hands and stashing it back into her locker.

“So…I s’pose we have to get back to this party.” Will said as he began to move around Emma towards the door but she caught his sleeve.

“Look.” She whispered, pointing up at the ceiling to where a single sprig of mistletoe was hanging. Still looking up, she felt Will’s lips touch her own and a warm tingling feeling spread through her whole body. Opening her mouth slightly Emma felt his tongue slide between her teeth and swirl round her mouth, causing her to go weak and the knees and have to lean against the front of his locker for support. His hand brushed the side of her face gently as he tucked a stray curl behind her ear and her own hand closed around his, bringing it down to her waist.

When they finally parted Will looked up at the mistletoe again. “Good ol’ Reg.” He muttered provoking a giggle from Emma as they left the locker room together, hand in hand, matching smiles on their faces. Approaching the canteen Emma hung back shyly and Will’s smile dropped slightly. “I understand.” He said finally, as he dropped her hand and walked back into the canteen, alone.

Emma’s head flopped to the side, her cheek resting against the cool wall. Why did she always mess things up? The old insecurities were returning, resurfacing, wrecking everything that had just been fixed. Shaking her head, Emma tried to banish those negative thoughts. It was Christmas, time to be happy and positive and look ahead, not behind. Her past was her past; Will was her future…only she had to get him back now.

Stepping back into the room, the lights momentarily blinded her and she spun on the spot, searching for Will’s familiar face. Finally she spotted him over by the drinks table and she wound her way towards him, dodging out of Honey’s line of view so she wouldn’t be swept away. “Will. Will I’m sorry. I was being stupid and insecure…can you forgive me?” She asked softly so nobody else could hear them.

“I guess. It just gets to me that you care so much about what they all think. They shouldn’t matter…its about us.” He replied, taking her hand and leading her into the centre of the now crowded dance floor.

“It doesn’t matter any more. I’m trying really hard now.” Emma said, as she looked around her at all the smiley people. “Dance?” She asked, giggling as Cascada Truly Deeply Madly came on. Bopping about, Emma and Will laughed and danced together, joined by Honey and Beth and Dan at one point, all of whom had had a little too much to drink by then.

I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I wanna lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

A slow song began playing as the hours ticked by and the officers grew weary. Will paused, beginning to move over to the drinks table but Emma pulled him back, wrapping her arms around his neck to the amusement of some of the officers around them. “But…everybody else?” Will began but Emma silenced him by pressing her index finger to his lips.

“Everybody else doesn’t matter…like you said, it’s you and me.” She whispered, smiling as his hands wound round her waist, the distance between their bodies growing ever smaller. A few heads were turned as they danced together, never taking their eyes off each other for more than a second as they swayed gently back and forth in time to the beat.

It's just another day
For you and me
In paradise
It's just another day
For you and me
In paradise

As the night drew to a close, Natalie Imbruglia’s song Glorious rebounded from the walls, bringing Emma from her dreamlike state, still dancing in Will’s arms. Leaning up she kissed him softly, provoking gasps and giggles from around them as the team members saw for the first time, the two people that were so truly meant for each other is seemed impossible that they wouldn’t get together.

“So is this the Christmas you imagined?” Will asked as they drew apart.

“No.” Emma replied, looking up to see him frown. “Its better.”

And it’s glorious just to laugh like us
And the world we turn it'll never stop.
Cos I’ve nothing to hide, we’ve got nothing lose, oh yeah.
And it’s glorious yeah it’s all I see on a day like this you know
its meant to be.
Yeah I’ve got nothing to find I’ve got nothing to lose, but you
And it’s glorious