"You don't have to look so horrified" Matt laughed. "It's a totally normal thing to do, hanging out with your boyfriend's parents at Christmas time."

"But - I've never even met your parents!" Rona protested.

"Well don't you think it's about time, then?"

"I'm easy, actually" Rona said.

"We've been going out for a pretty long time now, Rona" Matt said to try and convince her. "And they'd love to meet you at last."

"You've talked about me?" Rona looked at him aghast.

"Of course I have! What am I gonna do, pretend I don't have a girlfriend?" Matt thought about the implications of this. "Why, haven't you talked to your family about me?"

"I've told them you exist" Rona said. "We haven't really going into details."

"Well, thankyou very much!" Matt said teasingly. "Seriously though, it can't be that scary meeting my parents, can it?"

"At Christmas time? When everyone's rushing around trying not to piss people off and everyone's super-stressed from all the work that has to be done cooking all the food?"

"Christmases with my family aren't like that" Matt said defensively.

"All Christmases are like that! People just forget 'cause they get presents, and they get drunk."

"I'll protect you" Matt promised.

"I don't need protecting."

"Not if you don't come you won't."

Rona looked at him disbelievingly, but eventually she couldn't help but smile a little. "That's the worst attempt to get me to come yet."

"Well put it this way: what are you gonna do at Christmas if you don't come? I mean, let's face it, it's not like you've got any other prospects." Matt grinned at her, waiting to see if she'd take the bait.

"If I go" Rona said, "if I go, you've got to take me out to do some fun things in Geelong."

"Gees . . ." Matt scratched his head. "Well I guess I should be able to find something" he joked.

"Okay, fine" Rona said.

"You mean it?"

"Yes, I mean it."

"Aww, hon!" Matt kissed her. "Next year you can take me up to Sydney to meet your family, okay?" he said enthusiastically.

"Hold on!" Rona replied. "I don't know if I even want to see my family next Christmas."