Author Note:

This is something new I've just started and is only going to be a short fic (though I said that about The Headteacher and the Caretaker, so watch this space!) Not sure what to make of my opening chapter because it's setting the scene it feels slightly disjointed although that's probably just me :)

The pairing is Karen/Rob because my Wednesday nights haven't been the same since WLR went off air and I have more love for this pair than I know what to do with ;)

It's set between series 6 and series 7; although for the purposes of this story Bex didn't return during series 6.

I hope you enjoy. Please review if you want me to continue.

Leanne xx

Disclaimer: I do not own Waterloo Road. Anything you recognise is property of Shed Productions. Please don't sue me :P I'm only a starving student haha.

Love Lessons

Part One

To say Karen Fisher was not best pleased would have been a complete understatement. Her eyes narrowed and she glared down at the letter that had just dropped through her letterbox. It detailed a four day training course in which she was expected to attend next week, a national requirement for all school teaching staff. Including the headmistress it seemed.

"I really would prefer it if you could go and stay with your Dad," Jess and Harry both groaned at her words, exchanging a glance.

"Muuummm!" Harry protested, frowning. "We're old enough to look after ourselves!"

"Harry's right," Jess agreed, unable to think of anything worse than spending five days with her Dad and Maria. She didn't miss the doubtful look her mother shot at them. "Jeez Mum, you really don't trust us at all." She complained with a scowl.

Karen ran an agitated hand through her hair, "Of course I do," She tried to placate her. "I just have enough to worry about next week without worrying what state the house will be in when I come back."

"See," Harry muttered, pointedly, backing up his sister's previous argument.

Their mother sighed, "I'm sorry but it's not up for discussion," She said firmly. "I'll give your Dad a ring later."

"Unreasonable? Well it's clearly unreasonable of me to expect for you to want to spend some time with your own children." Karen ranted down the phone. There was a tense silence. "Well in that case I shall just have to make alternative arrangements." She slammed the phone down, breathing heavily and looking as though she was about to spit fire at the next person who irritated her.

At the top of the stairs Jess and Harry exchanged pleased grins and high- fived bringing their presence to the attention of their mother. "Don't think this changes anything," She called up the stairs.

Jess frowned, opening her mouth to argue; her expression changed to one of pain as Harry kicked her in the shin, sensing she'd do more harm than good. "We're more than capable of looking after ourselves, and Jess is technically an adult now."

"Exactly," Jess agreed quickly. "I can look after Harry while you're gone; we'll be fine."

"Jess you couldn't even take care of a hamster," Her mum pointed out, hiding a smile at the memory of the time when her daughter had accidentally left the cage open, and their pet had made a desperate bid for freedom.

"You can't compare me to a hamster," Harry was silently fuming, from his seat on the top step.

"He's right Mum," Jess started, and they both looked at her in surprise. It was very rare for the two of them to agree on anything. "For one thing he doesn't live in a cage." She stuck her tongue out at her brother, who moved to kick her again but missed.

"No but it'd be just my luck to come home and find you've left the front door unlocked and we'd been burgled." Karen answered immediately, trying to keep a straight face. "Sorry Jess, but I'd rather not go there."

"Now you've got enough money right? There's fifty under the lamp in case of an emergency, and the neighbours will be keeping an eye," Karen recited; her mind racing as she hurriedly packed the last of her things into her weekend bag. "The freezer is full –"

"So there's no need to live on takeaways," Jess interrupted cheekily. "Mum you've already been through this, at least twice."

Karen straightened up, panting after a struggle with the zip. She sighed; she really would have preferred to know that Jess and Harry were being looked after but Charlie and Maria had gone on a spontaneous holiday to the south of France, much to the delight of her children and she hadn't been able to persuade her mother to house-sit; "Really Karen darling, I'm sure the little darlings are old enough to look after themselves." For once it seemed that she agreed with her children. She'd relished the prospect of her mother invading their living space even less anyway so she had little other option but to leave them on their own. "I mean it Jess," She said sternly. "If I hear you've thrown one wild party while I'm gone –"

Her daughter's eyebrows disappeared into her fringe, "It never even crossed my mind," She answered innocently. "Great idea though Mum, eh Harry?"

"Don't even think about it!" Karen glared at her daughter, dragging the holdall off the bed and to the top of the stairs. "Make sure you ring me if you have any problems." She swept her hair back from her face, "I've put the number of the hotel I'll be staying at on the fridge."

Karen pulled into a service station about halfway between her house and the hotel. The drivers on the road had stressed her out already today, and she was desperately in need of a caffeine boost and some chocolate. Clutching a steaming cup of coffee and a Kit Kat, she climbed back into the car and idly picked up her phone. Despite the fact that she'd only been gone for just over two hours, she couldn't help but to worry about what she was letting herself in for leaving Jess and Harry to house-sit.

It was her daughter who mostly had given her cause for concern – give Harry unlimited access to the Xbox and he'd be perfectly fine. Jess however… Karen could only remember the last – and coincidentally only – time she'd been left on her own. She and Charlie had been away at a wedding, and they'd come home to find a fire engine parked on their drive because Jess had accidentally set her room on fire with some candles. With this in the forefront of her mind, she quickly tapped out a text message.

'Are you sure you'll be okay on your own? Love Mum x'

Her daughter replied almost instantly, which didn't come as a surprise because she spent most of her time glued to her phone.

'Mum, you've been gone all of two hours. We'll be fine. Enjoy your weekend. J xx'

'Okay love; call me if there are any problems… Oh and Jess – please leave the matches alone. Love Mum x'

Karen reversed into the hotel car park, after driving for nearly three more hours. A journey that was supposed to be a four hour round trip had taken nearly six, due to a severe vehicle collision. Looking up at the hotel she'd be spending the next five nights in, she was relieved to find that it looked about as decent as the pictures indicated. She could recall a particularly nasty hotel experience during a training weekend some two years previously, and had no desire to revisit it.

A quick glance at her watch told her it was almost four thirty, and she quickly decided she'd use the rest of the afternoon to unpack, and then perhaps have a relaxing bath before dinner.

Pulling the plug out of the bath, Karen climbed out wrapping a towel around her body and another around her hair. She pushed open the door and stopped dead in her tracks because there was a man sat on the sofa, watching the television. She supposed she must have made some form of incoherent noise, because he suddenly noticed her stood there and jumped up from the couch.

"I'm not being rude," Karen started awkwardly, finding her voice. She was rapidly turning the colour of beetroot and folded her arms across her chest in order to make herself more presentable. "But who are you and what are you doing in my room?"

"Rob Scotcher," He introduced himself, unable to help letting his eyes linger on the towel around her middle, "And I just checked in," He held up his key card, which she scrutinized closely.

"Well then it seems we have a bit of a problem here Rob, because I also booked it." She was beginning to feel self-conscious, fully aware of where his eyes were trained, and wishing he'd stop staring.

She coughed quietly to attract his attention, and he, having the grace to look mildly ashamed lifted his head to meet her eyes. Privately, he felt that he'd have been better keeping his gaze where it was because now he couldn't take his eyes off the soft creamy expanse of skin where her neck met her shoulders. This woman was stunning. Rob was vaguely aware of her lips moving, and blinked as if coming out of a trance. "Sorry?"

"I said-" Karen began with a slight air of impatience, "I'll just get dressed and then we'll go down to the reception and get this mess straightened out."

"Right you are –" He stopped, looking at her expectantly.

"Karen," She filled in for him, extending a hand for him to shake. "Karen Fisher."

Rob's face split into a wide grin, "Pleasure to meet you Karen," He said softly, reaching out and clasping her hand in his.

Karen had to stop herself from quivering at his touch and quickly let go of him. "I bet," She muttered, just loud enough for him to hear. He just gave her a sheepish grin in response.