A/N – Hey Guys, just a mini note to say all is explained in the A/N at the end of this chapter Oh and this chapter is dedicated to all my lovely reviewers, and Samah and Jodie (my little anonymous reviewers and EastEnders buddies) but the whole fanfic is dedicated to Kirsty. I don't think I have ever known anyone to be more understanding, helpful, kind and generally lovely. I 'luv ya' Kirsty! xxx

BitterSweet Reunions

Chapter 1 – No Words Needed

I sat quietly across from my mum, chewing absent-mindedly on a breadstick, not really listening to the strained conversation Roxy and her were taking part in. I thought about the old days, how I'd felt when one morning I had run into my mum's room to find her clothes gone from the wardrobe and her belongings no longer in their places. I'd cried so much that day, but I hadn't been angry, not really. I knew why she had left, and I knew one day I would leave too, and then I would find her.

'Veronica?'

I snapped back to reality quickly, looking up hesitantly at my mum's concerned face. Concerned I thought, or was there some other emotion lurking beneath the surface, something I hadn't thought of before. But her face quickly turned to a smooth smile, covering whatever it was she hadn't wanted me to see, we knew how to keep our masks on well now, both skilled in such a profession.

'Ronnie, I mean.' Mum smiled again.

'Yes?' I replied, mirroring her smile. I snuck a quick glance at Roxy, wondering how she was feeling in all of this, if I knew her well, it hadn't sunk it yet, she wasn't sure how to act around mum. I wasn't either, but I was better at pretending. My glance confirmed this and I gave her hand a quick squeeze under the table. I looked back at mum then, wondering what she wanted to tell me.

'France. You'd like it there! It has the most wonderful views, every day you wake up and, oh well you know what I mean. Now I did mention we're going out for dinner this evening at Fargo's, didn't I?'

Before I could speak, Roxy piped up.

'Is Aunty Peg coming?'

'No darling, I thought it would be nice just the three of us?' Mum replied, still looking straight at me. I met her eyes shyly for a moment, my curiosity too much to bear. I looked away again almost as soon as our eyes met, back to the untouched food on my plate.

'Oh right, yeah.' Roxy replied, not bothering to hide the confused disappointment in her tone.

'So I was thinking…' Mum began.

Just then the doorbell rang. Glad for the distraction I hurried out of the room.

'I'll get it!' I called back to them.

Reaching the door I quickly opened it to see Jack standing there. An unfamiliar sigh of relief escaped from my lips, and I gazed tenderly into his eyes for a moment.

'Hi Ron, listen I was just wondering, well I was thinking that, well Bradley roped me into jean's birthday party this evening and I was wondering if you, if you wanted to tag along… with me?' He looked down as he finished the sentence, wondering probably if I would be offended by the quiet addition to the end of his question. I wasn't, but of course I couldn't go, I had another commitment this evening. I leant against the door while I waited for him to look up. He did a moment later, and I smiled apologetically.

'I would Jack, but I'm sorry, I have plans this evening, some other time though…maybe.' It was my turned to look down, more ashamed this time.

'Oh.' He replied, the disappointment in his tone obvious to me, it pulled at my heart-strings for a moment, and I stepped forward slightly to rub his arm.

'But, thank you, for asking I mean.' I said, giving his arm one final squeeze before stepping back again.

'Well, maybe I'll see you another time then.' He said.

I was about to agree when I heard footsteps behind me, looking back I saw mum walk up behind me with her wine glass in hand. I let out another sigh, this time, because the situation had just got a lot more awkward.

'Well? Aren't you going to introduce me?' Mum said, smiling at Jack.

I returned her smile, stepping slightly out of the door again to stand next to Jack, facing mum, and then replied. 'Mum, this is Jack, Jack this is my mum, Glenda.'

'Lovely to meet you.' Mum said, leaning forward to shake his hand.

'And you.' Jack replied, his eyes on me, gauging my reaction.

'So, who exactly are you?' Mum said curiously.

'Jack is, Jack's just a friend.' I said quickly, I didn't want to overcomplicate things.

'Just, a friend?' Mum questioned.

I frowned, confused as to why she had asked it like that. I'd just said he was a friend hadn't I? Mum shot a meaningful glance down to where my hand was. I realised that without knowing, or meaning to, I had taken Jack's hand in my own, and was slowly caressing the back of his hand with my thumb. I looked down, and then up at Jack, my mouth slightly ajar. He was looking down at our hands, entwined together, fitting perfectly, just like they always had. I gave his hand a quick squeeze and let it go, stepping back into the doorway. I smiled falsely at mum, then turned back to look at Jack; he was staring at me, confusion clear in his chocolate brown eyes.

'Jack was just leaving, mum.' I said quietly, and she said goodbye quickly before returning to the kitchen.

'I…Jack I…' I was lost for words, I had nothing to say, all I could think about was why I had just taken his hand without even noticing, like it was some sort of lifeline I was clinging on to for support.

'I'll, uh, just be going then.' Jack replied, still looking at me, his puzzled expression inevitably matching mine, I guessed he was also contemplating the delicate moment we'd just shared.

I coughed, looking down, smoothing my expression, before smiling at Jack. 'Okay, goodbye.'

'Bye Ron.' He said, looking to my face once more, before turning and walking back down the path.

I closed the door behind me, leaning up against it for support. What had I done? Why had I done that? Too many questions and I didn't even want to begin to answer them, not now. I walked back into the kitchen and found Roxy clearing away the plates, mum leaning against the counter.

'So, what are you doing this afternoon Rox?' I said awkwardly, the first thing that had come into my mind; I didn't want to look at mum right now, I didn't want to confront what had just happened, but I was good at shirking things off like that and moving on, even if I still wondered about it inside, no one else knew.

'What? Well, me and Amy were going to go and see Al.' Roxy replied, shooting me a questioning glance. I shook my head quickly. I was about to look up at mum when I heard a phone ring from the other room. It wasn't mine; I didn't recognise the ringtone either.

'Oh, don't mind me, I'll just go get that.' Mum said, walking quickly out of the room.

Before pondering who could be calling mum, I picked up the glass and began washing it up in the soapy water Roxy had prepared. I concentrated on washing the glass well, getting every last dreg of wine out of it. I then began drying it, leaning up against the counter, when mum walked back in.

'Girls.' She sighed. This didn't look good, I thought to myself. 'Girls, something has come up, I'm sorry, I'm going to have to cancel dinner this evening, there's somewhere I have to be.'

Cancel. She was leaving us again. Okay, so this was just dinner, but still. I can't deal with this. I thought to myself. I was getting angrier by the second. Leaving us, for who, for what? Again? Suddenly I heard a smash. I looked down to find that I had dropped the glass in my hand, and it had smashed into a thousand tiny pieces on the shiny, tiled floor. I felt both mum and Roxy's eyes boring into me, so I hastily grabbed the dustpan and brush and swept up the mess. I didn't look into either of their eyes as I brushed past them to the empty the broken glass into the bin. I turned hesitantly and my suspicions were confirmed, they were both staring at me. Mum was frowning, confused, and Roxy just looked shocked.

'I just need… I am just going for a walk.' I said quickly, before turning on my heal and walking into the hallway. I grabbed my coat as I quickened my pace towards the front door.

'Ron! Ronnie!' Roxy called.

I ignored her and opened the door, stepped out and slammed it behind me. I looked into the square, and I could no longer hide my emotions. How had I even believed mum, trusted her? Of course she's going to leave when ever anything more important that Roxy and I called. What had I been thinking? I walked into the road, crossing through the small garden to the market place. I had no idea where I was going, but somehow I knew exactly where I needed to be. I hesitated in the doorway, wiping away the moisture by my eyes and fixing a smile onto my face. I walked on in, knocking hesitantly on the wooden door.

'Come in.' the familiarly comforting voice called.

I pushed the handle down and walked in. Jack was facing away from me, reaching into the back of the filing cabinet. I stepped into the office, and leant up against my old desk. My chin trembled and I felt that lump in my throat, like just before you're going to cry, but I fought to keep my composure.

'Jack.' I said quietly. 'Jack, I really need…I really a hug.' I laughed bitterly at myself. 'Jack, I really just need…you.' My voice broke on the last word and I could no longer keep the tears back. I trembled as I closed my eyes, tears cascading down my cheeks now. I heard the filing cabinet snap shut and in an instant I felt his warm, protecting arms around me. I leant into his embrace, hiding nothing now. His hand rubbed my back slowly, and I felt his lips kiss the top of my head comfortingly.

'Shh, shh now Ron, it's alright, I'm here now, it's going to be alright.'

He stood up straighter, supporting my weight, and pulled me gently to the sofa. He sat down, and without opening my eyes, I sat delicately onto his lap. My arms folded themselves around his neck, and I continued to sob quietly, my face nestled into his neck, his arms wrapped around me, protecting me from everything and everything, I needed him so badly right now, thank goodness he was here for me.

* * *

A few hours later

My eyes fluttered open. I had no idea where I was, or what time it was, I looked around the office confused, why was I here? Then it all came flooding back to me. Everything that had happened, I remembered now. I looked up and saw Jack's peaceful face, he was looking deep into my eyes, no expression on his face, no words needed to know how I felt, not with him. I stretched quickly, looking down at my hands, and I shuffled awkwardly off his lap to stand up, facing him.

'Jack, sorry about that, I didn't mean to land myself on you like that. I'm, sorry.' I said quietly, not looking into his eyes. I watched my feet shuffle awkwardly when I felt his hand take mine into both of his own, and I looked at his face, his eyes on me still.

'Ronnie don't be silly, I am here for you, always and forever, you know that.' He said, slowly caressing my hand.

'I meant it though Jack.'

'What?'

'I need you. More than ever. I'm sorry about doing this to you but…I really do need you right now.' I pulled my hand free of his and turned away slightly. Wiping the moisture left from the tears I took a step away from him.

'No, I'm sorry. What was I thinking? You've got your life, you don't need my problems to deal with too. I'm sorry Jack, goodbye.'

I began walking towards the door, regretting what I had just said, but believing the truth in it, as much as I didn't want to. Suddenly I felt his hand grab mine once more, and I stopped dead in my solemn tracks. I heard him stand up and suddenly his arms were around my waist. I couldn't help but lean back into him, my eyes closing with a sigh of relief, my heart fluttering like a tiny hummingbird's wings. My arm reached back to caress his cheek, and I felt his breath by my ear as his chin rested on my shoulder. No words were needed to know what he was saying, dismissing my last sentences and telling me he would be here, no matter what, if I needed him this was where he would stay, with me. I wanted to be as close as possible to him in that instant, my need for his comfort and protection overwhelming, so I swiveled in his arms, opening my eyes to look up to his face. One arm left my waist, as he brought his hand up to wipe away my tears. I smiled up at him in awe, even though deep down I knew he would be here for me all along, I still couldn't believe how perfect this moment was. He returned my smile, and I leant into him again, snuggling into his chest as he wrapped his arms around me once more, my protector, the only person who could ever be my protector, my Jack. I closed my eyes again as he rested his head on mine, and I knew his eyes would be closed too, both of us absorbed in our little bubble, our little bubble of peace.

Then I heard the door open quickly, and my eyes flew open, but before I could see who it was, Jack's shocked voice confirmed my worst fears.

'Glenda?!'

* * *

A/N – okay this was going to be a one-shot but I just have to continue it :P It will be two, three chapters at the most. I sincerely thank all my lovely loyal reviewers who have stuck with my stories, particularly the Love That Burns. I will be updating The Challenges of Love soon, and a little later The Love That Burns, but I am just not too sure where I want to take the latter, and I haven't quite finished the next chapter of The Challenges of Love, but bear with me, I promise you I will update soon. Anyway I hope you liked this, I don't know that it was that brilliant but the idea just came to me last night after that mini rack scene, and I had to write this! Please review, lots of love Chloe xxx