Christmas In London, Part III - December 21
By: Lori (SixteenOzs)

DISCLAIMER: "ER," the characters and situations depicted within are the property of Warner Bros. Television, Amblin Entertainment, Constant c Productions, NBC, etc. They are borrowed without permission, but without the intent of infringement. The story presented here is written solely for entertainment purposes, and the author is making no profit.

Please do not post or redistribute without the disclaimer above, or without the consent of the author.

Please send all questions, comments or criticisms to SixteenOzs02@yahoo.com

SUMMARY: Follows Christmas In London, Part IIb.

RATING: PG

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: I would like to take this opportunity to thank Trigg for ALL of her help with information on London. I could NOT have done this without her. Thank you so much for putting up with my endless barrage of questions! I would also like to thank Farah and everyone else who has taken a look at the early versions and offered feedback. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

Part III - Thursday, December 21, 2000

Elizabeth smiled as she woke up on her own the next morning. It was so nice not waking up to a blaring alarm clock for a change. Stretching slightly, she noticed that the bed was rather cool. She sighed as she turned over and realized Mark was already up. Reaching across his pillow, she picked up the folded sheet of paper, bearing her name in his familiar scrawl.

Rolling to lay on her back, she opened the note and began to read. Apparently, he'd recovered from the jetlag and felt up to a morning run. Grinning slightly, she made a mental note to remind him of how much she hated waking up alone.

With a gentle sigh, she got out of bed and pulled on her robe before heading downstairs.

Her father was already at the table sipping coffee and reading the newspaper when Elizabeth entered the kitchen. "Good morning, Daddy. Morning, Charlotte."

"Good morning, Miss Sleepy," Charles grinned.

"You haven't called me that in years," Elizabeth laughed as she poured a cup of coffee. "Besides I was recovering from the jetlag. Mark went to bed early, I just got up late."

"Would you like some breakfast?" Charlotte inquired. "Your father wanted eggs, bacon and toast."

"Yes, thank you," Elizabeth nodded.

"What about your friend?" Charlotte wondered. "Will he be joining us for breakfast?"

"I'm not sure," Elizabeth admitted. "He went out for a run before I woke up. Depending on how ambitious he's feeling, he could be gone for a while."

"I'll just prepare extra and leave a plate for him," Charlotte suggested.

"That sounds fine. Thank you." Taking her coffee and sitting down across from her father she commented, "You're a CARDIOVASCULAR surgeon. I hope you don't eat this breakfast every morning."

"My daughter, the doctor," Charles said with a sarcastic grin.

"Daddy, I'm serious," she said firmly.

"Most mornings, I have museli and toast for breakfast. Does that meet with your approval, DOCTOR Corday?" he asked.

"Yes, it does," she said with a triumphant smile before sipping her coffee.

Charles just shook his head. "So, what do you and Mark have planned for the day?" he wondered.

"We haven't really discussed it, but I need to finish my Christmas shopping, and I thought we might do a bit of sightseeing," she offered.

"Then you'll be out of the house for most of the day?" Charles asked.

Elizabeth considered this. "Most likely. Why?"

"Since I finished my shopping last week, I was thinking about going into the office to catch up on some paperwork and dictation," he explained.

She laughed. "You just can't stay away, can you?"

"You're one to talk," he accused with a laugh. "I'm impressed I managed to get you over here for a week."

"And I suppose it's my fault that I'm so much like you," she smiled.

"Oh, according to Isabelle, I definitely get to take credit for that one," he laughed.

"Have you two seen each other lately?" she wondered.

"Occasionally we'll see each other at dinners or parties. We still run in a few of the same circles. We've gotten quite good at being civil to one another," he said with a slight chuckle. After a few moments, he turned serious. "Do you ever regret that your mother and I got divorced, that you have to divide your time between the two of us?"

She smiled softly, then shook her head. "No. At first, when I was younger, I resented you both. You were the adults, why couldn't you find a way to make it work? But, as I've gotten older, I've realized that it was for the best. You couldn't live together anymore. For a while, you may have been able to put on a front for me, but sooner or later, we would have all just been miserable."

"How did you learn so much?" Charles asked with a smile.

"From Mark, actually," she admitted.

"Mark?" he questioned.

"Yeah," she nodded. "He got divorced about four and a half years ago, and he has a daughter, Rachel. She lives with her mother in Saint Louis. I see how hard it is on him. He wants to be there for her, but at the same time, he knows that he and Jennifer would only drive each other crazy. He loves Rachel, and I've told him that he needs to focus on that. I know that you and Mother both love me, and you'd do anything for me. That's the important thing, and that's why I love both of you."

"You continually amaze me," Charles said proudly.

"I guess I'm just getting older and wiser," she said with a laugh.

"I hope you're not saying that you're old," Mark teased as he entered the kitchen, "because you're the same age I am."

Elizabeth laughed as he leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. "No, I'm just saying that I'm wiser."

He considered this for a moment, then grinned, "Okay, that I can handle."

"Why didn't you wake me up?" she wondered. "I would have gone running with you."

"You needed your sleep," he said as he reached for the pitcher of juice on the table and poured himself a glass.

"Well, thank you," she smiled. "But if you want to go again, let me know and I'll come with you."

"Sure," he nodded as he sipped the juice.

"We're about to have breakfast. Care to join us?" Charles wondered.

"Actually, I'm famished after my run. Just let me head upstairs and take a quick shower first," Mark replied before sitting the glass on the table.

"That's fine," Elizabeth nodded as she got up and removed the carafe from the coffeepot, brought it to the table and refreshed her and her father's cups. "We'll wait for you."

"Thanks," he smiled before taking off towards the stairs.

The sun was starting to sink behind the clouds that evening when Mark and Elizabeth returned to the flat, laden with packages from such stores as Lilywhites, Harrods, Marks and Spencer, Liberty and Debenhams.

Charlotte met them in the foyer as they were taking off their coats. Noticing all of their packages, she asked, "Did you two buy out all of the stores in London?"

Elizabeth pretended to consider this for a few moments. "No, we left a little for the poor saps who are waiting until Sunday to finish their shopping."

"But I do think we went in EVERY store in greater London," Mark added.

"I see the tree arrived," Elizabeth commented, referring to the large spruce in the corner of the foyer.

"And it looks as if you may be on your own to decorate it," Charlotte told them. Off of Elizabeth's curious look, she explained, "You father called earlier. He forgot he had the Chief of Staff's Christmas party tonight. He said that you're welcome to come along, you just need to let him know so he can call and tell them to plan for two more."

Elizabeth looked to Mark. "If you want to go, we can, but I'd say it's roughly the equivalent of spending the evening with Romano, Kayson and Vucelich."

Mark laughed. "I think you already know my answer to that one!"

"I'll just call Daddy and let him know that we'll be staying in tonight," Elizabeth smiled.

"That's what I thought you'd say," Charlotte grinned. "I have some brown onion, ale and cheddar cheese soup simmering on the stove. There's some fresh bread on the counter, and you can also make a salad, if you want."

"Thanks," Elizabeth said with a smile. "We actually had a late lunch in Covent Garden, so it may be a while before we're ready for dinner. But, you can leave whenever you're ready, Charlotte. I think we can survive on our own."

"Actually, I think I'm done for the day. I'll just gather my things, and see you tomorrow," Charlotte replied.

"That sounds fine," Elizabeth assured her. "Have a good evening."

"You, too," Charlotte smiled before turning back towards the kitchen.

"Want to take the packages upstairs, then get started on the tree?" Elizabeth wondered as she turned towards Mark.

"Sure," he nodded. "So, what's going on this tree?"

"The ornaments we used last night are the ones that Daddy and I have collected over the years. Somehow, his patients found out that he collected ornaments, so a lot of them have added to the collection. I thought we'd put those on the tree in the foyer," she explained.

"That sounds nice," he smiled.

They spent the next two hours working on the tree, then moved upstairs to the lounge. Elizabeth put a CD of her favorite Christmas carols into the stereo as they began to wrap presents. It wasn't long before spools of ribbon were being thrown across the room as they each tried to prevent the other from getting an early look at their Christmas presents. They finally collapsed into a pile on the floor as they tried to stop laughing and catch their breath.

They were both lying on their backs, her head resting against his chest. Turning to him, she smiled and said, "I'm glad you're here."

"Me, too," he said as he brushed a lock of hair out of her face.

Turning over onto her stomach, she leaned in for a long, gentle, yet passionate kiss.

As the kiss ended, he chuckled softly. "What would your father say if he walked in right now?"

She grinned mischievously. "Right now, my father is at the Chief of Staff's Christmas party."

"So, how do you suggest we spend the evening?" he asked with a grin.

"I don't know about you, but I'm starting to get hungry. We could go down to the kitchen and have some of Charlotte's soup. Then, I was thinking it might be nice to relax in that huge claw-footed tub in our bathroom," she said suggestively.

"Oh, really?" he questioned.

"Really," she nodded before initiating another kiss. "Care to join me?"

"I think that is a very good idea," he smiled, "but don't you think we should finish wrapping the presents first?"

"As long as you promise not to keep peeking," she teased.

"Me?" he questioned in mock offense. "You're worse than I am!"

"I'm impatient by nature," she laughed as she sat up and reached for his hand, pulling him up next to her.

"Then you should have gone into emergency medicine," he joked, "instant gratification."

"But that's what I have you for," she grinned as she reached for the role of tape and resumed wrapping.

A little more than an hour later, he wrapped her in his arms as they sank into the tub. She sighed contentedly.

"Happy?" he questioned.

"Very," she nodded. "I think this is the first time we've been able to do this since we left Chicago."

"What? Take a bath?" he wondered.

"No," she laughed. "To just be together. You and me, without a screaming kid in the background, without being exhausted from the flight, without rushing around the city, without having to say anything."

"It is nice, isn't it?" he asked with a smile.

"Mmm-hmm," she murmured.

They stayed like that for a long time, until he finally asked, "What's the plan for tomorrow?"

"I talked to my mother this morning," she remarked.

"How is Isabelle?" he grinned.

"Isabelle is Isabelle," she laughed. "Actually, I think she's happier about the idea of seeing you again than she is about seeing me."

"I'm sure that's not true," he assured her.

"You're all she wanted to talk about this morning," she added.

"She just wants to make sure I'm taking care of you," he suggested.

"Couldn't be that," she laughed. "She always made sure I could take care of myself."

"She loves you," he reminded her.

"I know," she nodded. After a moment, she added, "I was just giving you a hard time."

"You!" he exclaimed as he splashed her with a handful of water.

"You know you'd be miserable without me," she laughed.

"I would," he said seriously.

She turned over in his arms and looked at him for a long moment. Smiling softly, she whispered, "I'd be miserable without you, too."

"Then we'll just have to make sure that never happens," he smiled as he gently caressed her cheek.

Charles entered the flat and made his way up the stairs to the lounge later that night. He couldn't help but smile as he found Mark and Elizabeth curled up on the sofa. "What are you reading?" he wondered.

They both looked up. Elizabeth smiled and said, "'A Christmas Carol.'"

"You're favorite," Charles commented as he came in and sat down.

"We're taking turns reading chapters," she explained. "How was your party?"

"Boring as always," he grinned. Nodding towards Mark, he commented, "But they are quite interested in meeting you."

"Me?" Mark questioned.

"Yes," he nodded, "an American trauma physician creates quite a stir here. Several of my colleagues are very interested in meeting you."

"What about me?" Elizabeth asked, pretending to be offended.

"They already know you," Charles laughed. "So, Mark, would you feel up to a tour of the hospital tomorrow?"

Mark looked to Elizabeth.

"I was actually thinking about spending the afternoon with Mother," Elizabeth replied. "You two could spend the day at the hospital, then we could all meet for dinner tomorrow night?"

"Works for me," Charles commented.

"Me, too," Mark added.

"What do you say we leave for the hospital around eight?" Charles asked.

"That sounds fine," Mark nodded.

Standing up, Charles said, "Well, this old man needs his rest. I think I shall retire for the night."

"Goodnight," Mark smiled.

"'Night, Daddy," Elizabeth nodded. "We'll turn off the lights and lock up before we got to bed."

"See you in the morning," Charles said as he turned towards the stairs.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it! Please let me know what you think: SixteenOzs02@yahoo.com LLP

July 16, 2000

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