A/N I will eventually get back to my other stories. Had this on hold and felt I wanted to get it out. Thank you x

Walking towards the house, both arms felt they were dropping off, from the weight of the bags, hair dripping in her face from the constant freezing rain, bones so cold, she wondered if she would ever feel the warmth again. The coat did little to protect her from the storm, passing the family car in the driveway she entered through the back door. Gasping a breath of relief she dropped the heavy food bags to the floor. Glancing at the keys, shiny and bright, on the kitchen table for the car, she shook her head. The family car, as he called it,sat outside day in day out, she was not allowed to use it, banned in fact. Oh, she had taken it once to pick their daughter Sophia up from school, the weather had been so bad and she didn't want her getting soaked or ill. And Carol's shoulder had never been right since, her husband had beaten her so bad for daring to touch the car, he had sent her to hospital that night. Her body shivered with the memories, it had taken her two weeks to recover, the doctor confirming at the time, she was lucky to be alive.

Rick, the local sheriff, sneaked in the day before they were releasing her back to her loving husband Ed, begging her to file a report against him, offering her safety and security for both her and Sophia. The whole town knew that Ed was not the loving husband he claimed, he was the wife beater that people wanted behind bars, until Carol did something, than no one could help. Locating a small hand towel, she dried her hair, wishing he could get some warmth into her bones, wondering what would happen if she took Rick up on his offer?. No, she didn't have the strength as yet to even go down that road, more so after the beating he gave her two days ago. Placing the towel in the wash basket, she gazed at the rain hitting the small kitchen window.

"Well guess another afternoon of making his tea and then pick Sophia up" Carol had taken to talking to herself a lot over the years, she had no friends, Ed had made sure of that or so he thought,yet there were four she had kept close,one special one, who he knew nothing about, and never would. Smiling to herself, Andrea had become a good friend at the school gate and walking home, her little girl had started in Sophia's class a few months back. Carol had seen the new mum standing on her own in the far corner of the playground, plucking up the nerve Carol never knew she had, she slowly walked over, not missing the way, the blonde moved further back as if frightened to be approached, how well Carol knew that.

She remembered reaching her hand out gently saying she knew what it felt like to feel so alone, and there were days she felt so afraid. Why she shared that she never knew, but it had brought a shaky smile to Andrea's face, as she reached out to shake her hand.

Andrea gradually shared her story over the weeks when they met at the school gates away from prying eyes. She spoke about her daughter Penny's dad, how he was a Governor up north, and thanks to Shane, a police man in the local area, she had the strength to file a report about his abuse on her and their daughter. Some how Philip had managed to buy his way out of the charges and a bounty was put on Shane for helping her. Thank god Philip had a few colleagues who had witnessed the abuse and helped both Shane and herself escape from the state. Carol remembered the tears Andrea shed over it all, as each one of those men were found dead over the few weeks that followed and she knew her husband was behind it. Shane and Andrea were only good friends and he managed to get a job on the local police force a few weeks ago, partnered with Rick. Another name that crossed her lips was a man named Merle, without asking Carol knew the man meant a lot to her friend.

Bonding over their abuse, Carol introduced her to some of the mums, who didn't treat Andrea like she was a leaper, but were close enough to talk too about her problems. Lori , Maggie and little Beth were great they didn't judge and wished that Carol would have the strength to leave Ed, they knew what was happening but understood her fears. Lori worried the most, more so since seeing her, that night they took her in, she had been at the hospital with Carl, after he broke his arm falling from a tree, and had been waiting for Rick to collect them. The call came in as he was leaving shift, Rick was the one who took it, coming in the ambulance with Carol.

Maggie was another strong and confident woman who would give anything to cut Ed's balls off, her husband was a guy called Glenn and they had been happily married for 5 years with twin girls. Then Beth, Maggie's younger sister, very shy, she was expecting her second child to Zack, her husband of two years. If Carol had allowed it, she would have been saved a long time ago, by their support, there were many times she wished she could. They were all so friendly and nice, it was Ed that had beaten it into her not to make friends, do not speak to anyone, or Sophia would suffer.

Smiling to herself as she started the dinner for later, she laughed. Ed didn't know about Andrea or the little group she had, the best thing he had no idea of her plan to go away. Yes Carol Peletier, the abused wife of Ed, the little mouse who was afraid of everything. Was going away, taking a two week vacation to Greece with Andrea, and best of all they were taking their children. The money Ed had given her over the last few months had increased due to her not pressing charges, if only he knew she had been squirreling it away, and giving it to Shane, who in turn had helped her get the documentation she required for her and Sophia. Tomorrow when Ed was at work, Shane and Rick were picking her up and taking her to the airport. Even her friends within their group, had made sure that both Andrea, Carol, Sophia and Penny had suitcases packed with everything they would ever need for a wonderful stress free holiday, even down to a bikini that Carol almost burst out laughing when Lori showed it her.

Her stomach churned as her eyes glanced at the clock, was she doing the right thing?. Her nerves making her sick she rushed to the bathroom heaving up what little she had eaten. Rick had spoken with her asking whilst she was away, if she would rethink filing that report against Ed, even though it had been a few months, he still had all the evidence to hand and was more than ready to throw the bastard in Jail.

Hearing the phone ring she flew down the stairs, knowing if she did not answer in the allocated time Ed would beat her when he got home. Out of breath she answered

"Hi Ed, how are you?" being as pleasant as she could, knowing no matter what she said he would still hurl abuse at her

"Carol, Carol is that you...?" hearing the frightened voice on the other end, she tired to work out who it was, her thoughts rushing through names

"Andrea is that you? How did you..."

"Oh thank god it's you. I got your number from Rick I am so sorry to call, Ed isn't there is he? I don't want you to get in trouble" she was rushing her words, hoping the man was no where near her friend.

"No, he's not, Andrea are you ok honey?" There had to be a reason for the call never had anyone rang her at home, even school knew they were to ring Ed at work, if there was any problem with Sophia.

"Listen, Shane has called me, Philip has located me, I need to get Penny out from school and away tonight. Shane is changing the tickets now, are you up for this?"

Taking a deep breath Carol looked around the house, she had cooked all Ed's meals for the two weeks, placed them in the freezer, she had even sorted his lunch for work too. Did she want to wait another night living in fear that he would find out?. Or did she take this chance, pick Sophia up from school, grab her suitcases from Lori and take this opportunity of freedom. Swallowing hard she took a deep breath.

"Yes Andrea I'm ready"