The train station is packed full of people who are probably on their way to their families to spend Christmas with them. We included. Somehow, I have got roped into going down to London to visit Cory's parents with him. Something they sprung on just before they left after visiting for his birthday.

"Before we leave, we were wondering what you planned for Christmas?" Mrs Stevens asks, pulling her handbag over her shoulder.

"Err nothing yet, I don't think," Cory says, looking at me for confirmation.

"Perfect, you can come down and visit us. Stay for the week between Christmas and New Year. All of you should come," she says, extending her invitation to myself and my mum.

"Thank you so much. That is very kind of you, we'll try and arrange what we can," my mum replies, looking flustered.

"Yeah that sounds great. We'll see you then," Cory says, before leading his parents and sister out of the front door to say a final goodbye.

"How do we get out of this one?" I ask my mum, not believing that we are actually going to go to London for Christmas.

"I don't think we can," is all she mutters before walking away.

It was nice of them to invite us over but there is only so much of his parents I can take. His father is nice enough but it is mainly his mother who drives me insane. When she stayed over for Cory's birthday, she complained that Missy didn't have a proper bed to sleep in (she slept in Erin's room, in the bay window while we moved Erin's cot into our room). My mum slept on the sofa for the entire week that they were over and never complained (not to their faces anyway). If Mrs Stevens wasn't complaining about the sleeping arrangements, then she was criticising the decor of the house or the way I was looking after Erin. There was always something wrong.

The only time I appreciated her being here was when she and her husband said they would look after Erin on Cory's birthday so we could go out with our friends. That was a nice gesture from then.

Now though, I have a bag packed and I am sat on a crowded platform, waiting for our train. Just Cory and I are traveling today (along with Erin) as my mum still has work one more day before breaking up for Christmas. She will be getting the train tomorrow, on Christmas Eve and meeting us there.

"Finally the train is here. Hopefully they will let us on soon. It's freezing out here," Cory says, his breath visible as he talks.

"Let's hope so," I say back, picking up the car seat which Erin is sat in. On top of her bald head is a red woolly hat, keeping her warm along with the blanket that is wrapped around her (and the many layers of clothes).

I watch as people leave the train, suitcases in hand and heading towards the stations exit. There are some families with excited children who are running all over the place, nipping in and out of adults' legs. Some people look like they have traveled alone, not talking to anyone in sight, probably meeting families.

A few minutes of waiting occurs before we are finally allowed on the train. Luckily we have managed to reserve seats around a table so we have more room for Erin's stuff compared to the normal two seats.

"I'll put her next to the window. Do you want to sit next to her or should I?" Cory asks, placing the car seat on which Erin is sat in, on the seat next to the window.

"You can if you want," I say, plopping myself down the other window seat, opposite of Erin. "Do you think she will sleep through the journey?" I ask, looking at the sleeping baby across from me.

"She's been fed so hopefully. It will be interesting to see how this goes," Cory comments, stroking the side of Erin's face.

It's the first time I've taken her on any kind of public transport. Most places I take her are close enough to walk and if we have gone anywhere further, then that's normally in the car with my mum. She's never been on a bus or train, or even a journey this long.

"Hmm, let's hope she's quite for a bit so we can get some work done," I say, taking my copy of The Great Gatsby out of my bag along with the notes for an essay we have to write.

***
The journey runs smoothly, with Erin only stirring awake when we are about half an hour away from Kings Cross. Cory sits her on his lap, pointing out different animals seen from the window. She obviously has no idea what is going but seems to be enjoying the atmosphere.

We finally pull into the station after a couple of hours. From the window, I can already see the crowds of people waiting on the platforms, similar to the crowd we left behind but even busier. I pack away my school work, thankful that I managed to get half of the essay done, while Cory settles Erin back into her seat.

"Do you want to take the suitcase or shall I?" I ask him, wheeling the case into the train aisle.

"I'll take it. You can carry Erin," he replies back, placing the car seat on the table. I wheel the case slightly closer to him, which he takes hold off. I then pick the seat up, with Erin's eyes staring right at me. I stick my tongue out at her only for her to begin screaming with laughter. A new trick she has recently learnt.

Once the train has come to a complete halt, we begin to get off. I let Cory take the lead as he knows where exactly his dad is going pick us up. Even though I've been to London a few times, I still easily get lost.

Soon enough, we are out of the station and are onto the busy streets. It is no later than one in the afternoon so there are still plenty of people about, doing last minute Christmas shopping. There are a few decorations hanging from the buildings. Through shop windows I see glistening lights in array of colour, along with trees standing upright, tinsel wrapped around them tightly.  It looks beautiful.

"He should be around this corner," Cory mutters as we reach the end of a street. "There's his car," he picks up his pace, walking towards his father.

As soon as Mr Stevens sees us, he is out of car and embracing his son into a hug.

"Are you both okay?" he asks us not long after.

"We're fine Dad. I sometimes forget how busy it is here," Cory replies, placing the suitcase into the boot of the car which he had opened for us. I fit Erin's seat into the car, making sure it is safely secured.

Cory sits in the passenger seat, next to his dad, while I sit in the back next to Erin who is still awake and watching everything that is happening around her.

"I can't believe how much the little one has grown," Mr Stevens comments once we begin our journey. "I only saw her a few weeks ago and already she has changed so much,"

"I know. She has started sitting up now as well." I tell him, stroking the fair hairs on Erin's head.

"Won't be long now 'till she is crawling all over the place and you 'ave to run round to get her," he then says which I just reply back with a faint laugh.

For a while, we drive through the city centre of London (something I didn't realise you had to pay to do), going past some of the famous landmarks. The Thames seems to be our main guide as we follow for the majority of our journey until we pull up in front of an old looking, Victorian house, hidden away from all of the crowds.

"Here we are. What do you think?" Cory asks, before opening his door to leave the car.

"It's nice," I say to him, admiring the bay windows and the curtains which drape across them.

I carry Erin in her car seat up the steps which lead to the front door. Before I even have time to pull down on the handle, the door swings open to reveal Mrs Stevens standing there.

"Where is he? Oh hello Kristen," she says when she realises that I am stood at the door while her son is still at the car getting the suitcase.

"Hi, thanks for inviting us over," I reply, waiting for her to invite us in.

"Hmm yes, you're welcome," she says, not sounding like she means it. "Come on in," she moves out of the door way allowing me to enter.

One of the first things that I notice is the picture on the walls of Cory and Missy, taken over the last few years. The further down I go, the younger they get until it is just pictures of Cory by himself. I enter what seems to be the living room, again full of pictures but this time more of the two adults – one which looks to be taken on their wedding day. In the centre of the room is a lit fire, with logs burning and everything. Nothing like the electrical fire at home.

"It feels good to be back," I hear a voice behind me say, causing me to turn around on the spot. "I've only been back once and that was at Easter. I do miss it here," Cory tells me, looking around the room.

"What do you mean by 'back'? Surely this is a different house to the one you grew up in?" I ask him, wondering if his parents were able to afford two houses at once.

"Nope, it's the same one. My parents only rented it out when we moved to Leeds so they easily managed to get it back before they moved in again," he tells me.

Instead of saying anything, I take Erin out of her seat and prop her up on the sofa with a cushion supporting her back. I stay with her while Cory takes our suitcase up to his room to unpack.

The rest of the afternoon moves along quite smoothly. Missy returns home after being at a friend's all day and immediately clings onto Erin. She doesn't leave her side until she goes to bed. Cory's parents are nice enough as well, no snide remarks have been made yet so I'm calling that a victory.

We watch one of the cheesy Christmas films that are on during the night. No one really seems to be paying attention to it but it's either watch this or go to bed stupidly early. It is ten in the evening by the time I decide to go to bed. I walk into what was Cory's bedroom while he was growing up, with football poster covering the walls with the occasional poster of some model. The only thing that looks out of place is the travel cot next to the bed with the baby sleeping in it. Other than that the room is a making of a thirteen year old.

"Classy," I mutter under my breath, not realising that Cory is stood behind me.

"Shut up, you know you like it really," he comments, grabbing my waist and pulling me closer to him.

"Whatever," I lean up, letting his lips lightly graze against mine.

Shuffling away, I make my way to the bed, soon followed by Cory. I lay my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat until I fall asleep.

The morning passes by in a blur. I hear Cory get up with Erin at something like five in the morning but I stay settled in bed. I would have slept in longer if it wasn't for Missy running around the house only a couple of hours later, screaming about how Santa is coming tonight. After that, I thought there's no point trying to sleep.

I spend the first half of the morning watching cartoons with Missy and Erin (although I doubt Erin was paying much attention) and the second half wrapping some of my Christmas presents.

Better late than never.

"What time is your mum due at the station?" Mr Stevens ask me once I have returned from wrapping my presents.

"Twelve I think it was. She caught a slightly earlier train that Cory and I," I tell him and watch as he glances at his watch.

"Hmm, well I better set off soon if I want to make it on time," he says to no one in particular.

Soon enough, he sets off to collect my mum from the station.

"It's nice of my husband making two trips to the station. Especially when he could have easily have made only one," Mrs Stevens remarks once her husband has left the house.

"Both my mum and myself really appreciate it. I know she found it annoying that she had to work and couldn't get the day off," I try reasoning with her but all she does is walk away instead.

I continue playing with Missy while Erin has one of her naps while Cory wraps the last of his presents up.

"Kwisten, will you take me to meet Santa? Mummy hasn't taken me this year," she cries after playing superheroes for a bit.

"Oh, I don't think it is up to me to take you. That should be left to you mummy and daddy," I tell her, hoping she understands but rather than understanding she bursts into tears instead.

"BUT I NEED TO TELL HIM WHAT I WANT," she cries, getting the attention of her mother and Cory.

"What's wrong Missy?" Cory asks her, wiping away tears in her eyes.

"I want to meet Santa!" she tells him, still raising her voice for the whole street to hear.

"Well maybe we can still go and meet him sweetie. He should still be at the shopping centre, making sure he knows what everyone wants for Christmas. We could go down now," Mrs Stevens suggest, acting as butter wouldn't melt.

"Or we could wait until Kristen's mum gets here and all go, taking Erin with us so she could meet him as well. I know she wouldn't be able to interact with him but it could still be sweet," Cory suggests, watching his mother to see how she reacts.

"Alright, we will wait and do that," she after thinking about it for a few minutes.

Missy soon stops crying when she realises that she is getting what she wanted. She begins writing her list (apparently not for the first time) of the list of toys and goodies that she wants Santa to get her. It's quite sweet really.

I debate about stirring Erin awake but decide to forget about it, knowing that she will only end up sleeping on the way to whatever shopping centre we go to. At least she should hopefully be awake to meet Santa Claus.

Not long after the clock strikes noon, the front door opens to reveal my mum and Cory's dad, walking through the hallway. I greet my mum and quickly fill her in on the decision made about going to see Santa which she likes the sound of.

"Let me just drop my bag off in the room before go. I've literally just walked through the door Kristen," she says to me.

I give her the space to get ready by putting a little coat on Erin and settling her into the car seat. Cory's parents still had the pushchair that they used for Missy so we fold that into the back of the car, before securing the car seat. It's lucky that they have recently upgraded to a bigger car otherwise we wouldn't all be able to fit.

As soon as my mum is ready, we make our way towards the shopping centre, taking in the views we go past. Missy keeps clapping her hands every time we go past a Christmas tree in a shop window and that happens a lot.

It doesn't take long for us to reach the shopping centre. Once everyone is out of the car and ready, Missy is dragging her mum through the car park and towards the entrance of the building. There's no time to admire the beautiful decorations because before we know it, we are in the queue to meet Santa.

By this time, Erin is now awake and her eyes are following the dazzling lights that hang from the ceiling, fixing her stare upon them.

"Someone likes the lights," I say, nudging Cory to get his attention.

"it looks like you're right. I wonder what she likes about them?" he wonders out loud. "Anyway, we should be getting her out of here so she is ready to meet Santa." I nod in agreement, letting him take her out of the pram she is in.

Cory balances Erin on his hip but I watch as her little head keeps spinning around taking in the sights before her. There's always something new for her to look at.

"Next," a woman dressed as an elf shouts at us, making me realise it is our turn.

"Missy, you go first. I'm sure your list is longer than Erin's," I say to the small girl who eagerly nods her head at me before running off to meet Santa.

I don't hear the whole conversation but I do hear snipped such as the word pony and helicopter and hide a laugh as a worried looks appears on Santa's face. When I glance over at her parents, the same worried look is mirrored in their faces. I don't think she will be getting a pony.

"Do you two want to come up now?" the elf asks again, ushering us forward.

Cory stands next to Santa with Erin still I his hands, chatting away about god knows what. Erin continues moving her head all over the place, looking at everything except at Santa. Typical.

"Do you want to be in the photo as well?" the elf has wandered back over to me and asks.

"Err sure," I reply and quickly make my way to Santa's other side.

Without saying anything, I smile for the photo before scurrying away and joining the rest of our party.

"That was so much fun," Missy squeals as we go down the escalator towards some shops.

For the remainder of the afternoon, we weave in and out of shops, not really buying anything because there's nothing left to buy. We leave just before the shopping centre closes and make our way back towards the house for more cheesy Christmas movies and hot chocolate.

A/N: I know I'm late posting this today but here it is. This is the last chapter I will be posting as a teenager which is really strange to say.

Also the next time I post (22nd Dec) you'll be getting a Christmas bonus of two chapters then!

See you then!