A moment of heavy silence passed in the moments after he spoke. Bella's gaze remained fixed on his, taking in the sight of him from his tense jack to his eyes that his blank stare that somehow seemed to see into her soul. Her mind sought a reason for his sudden change in demeanor, but she could find nothing - nothing she'd said, nothing she'd done, no tone, noting - that should cause him to stiffen. Perhaps he was thinking too hard. Or perhaps, she though, her mind going to the Christmas present she'd carefully hidden behind her bedside table back at the MacFusty house, he needed a drink.

"Are you sure they wouldn't think less of me for... showing up, uninvited?" He was inviting her, but it wasn't an official invitation, nor did she particularly imagine James MacFusty admitting in front of his family that he'd taken it into his own hands to invite her - either because he didn't want to stir suspicion, or because he didn't want to be praised for his kindness.

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— MJ is MAGICAL —

Jamie was quick to shake his head at her words, having rebounded rather quickly from his last comments and blank state of mind from that one word. Though the nagging feeling of hearing it still lurked in the back of his mind, he was pretty sure he could continue on well enough without such hesitations again. He hoped anyways.

"They'll not think less of you," he said with a confident tone, "Everyone seems to have taken to you rather well, you'll be just fine." And though he knew he shouldn't he went on to add, "And if it really comes down to it, I can invite you." He didn't think it would have to come to that or that they'd have to deal with such questions as to why he was the one that invited her. He was almost positive that Mac and Imogen would invite her along before he'd have to.

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Yay Bree Set!

As obligated as she felt to continue pressing, to make sure he wouldn't mind inviting her if it came to that, she paused, pondering on his words, before giving a decisive nod. She couldn't argue forever; knowing Jamie, he'd rescind the offer is she kept it up. "Well, it's settled then," she said, averting her gaze away to no particular spot.

"Now I must tell you," she said, rising from her chair to busy herself with the empty teacups in front of the. "You'll be needing a bath -" Well, maybe a few baths before that day; there had to be a way to get the masculine stench out of a MacFusty, even if it took a dozen exotic soaps. "- along with a clean change of clothes for Christmas."

Setting the dishes in the sink, she turned to glance at him over her shoulder, a smile on her face. "I'll you smelling nice that evening."

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— MJ is MAGICAL —