Well, here is the first chapter to my new fanfic! This is the sequel to Café et fraises, but this is more Pete's story, rather than Lucy and Bov's. It's set between the last two chapters of CeF. I own nothing but the plot and the OC characters. Once again, a HUGE thank you to Ithilya as she is the brains behind this beauty!!

Remember; don't forget to review!

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"And I took the little book out of the Angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter." –Revelation Chapter 10, Verse 10.

Taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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The Dragon and the Rose

Chapter One

Swill and Libby have a baby

1st September

Pete pulled up in the school car park, checking his reflection in the rearview mirror, before cutting the engine and climbing out. The chill September air caused bumps to rise on his skin. His breath was steam in front of his face, as he shut the car door behind him and locked it. Sighing, he walked across the crisp grass, before he met the damp path and made his way into school.

'Morning, Pete,' said Mr Watson, the headmaster. Pete smiled at the old man, signing his name on the teacher's list. 'Looking forward to your new class?' he asked. Pete nodded.

'I'm just hoping for an easy year,' the blonde laughed. Mr Watson nodded, before handing Pete a yellow folder.

'Your register for this year.' Pete took it with a nod, before making his way out the office and through the corridor. He made his way up the first set of stairs he came to, tucking the folder under one arm as he rooted for his keys in his pocket. Unlocking his classroom door, he kicked it open and looked about.

It was dark as the blinds had not been pulled up yet and it smelt of Ambi-pur air freshener. The walls were bare, the bookshelves dusty from six weeks lack of use. Moving into the classroom, he tossed the folder onto the desk with his briefcase, before pulling off his jacket and hanging it over the back of his chair.

Christ. Pete hated September.

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Pete gazed out over the sea of boys all sat in the hall, Mr Watson stood at the front as he led the assembly. They were all sat on their bottoms, legs folded, some muttering to each other. Briefly, he wondered if the boys were as bored as he was. The hall was large and square, but out-dated; the walls painted green, curtains patterned like the 80s.

'Also, I'd like to introduce Miss Gruffudd,' he said. Pete frowned, looking up as a woman across the hall from him gave a wave, every boy turning to look at her. Her sandy blonde hair fell down her back, pulled in a loose ponytail. She was wearing a big, pink jumper that ended over her thighs, jeans covering her legs. She flushed a little at the stares, before Mr Watson called for attention.

'She'll be teaching Geography and shall also be helping out in the P.E department.' Pete couldn't stop the grin spreading on his face. Helping out in the P.E department? It seemed Christmas had come early. Once the assembly had finished, Pete deliberately hung back from heading to his first P.E lesson just to catch another glimpse.

'Give over,' he muttered to himself. 'She's way outta your league, mate.' Yet, his blue eyes scanned the sea of heads, frowning when he saw she'd disappeared.

Suddenly, something collided into his side. 'I'm sorry,' said the woman to his left, the thick Welsh accent catching his attention more than anything else. It was Miss Gruffudd.

'Don't worry about it,' he replied. 'I'm Pete. Pete Dunham.'

'History and P.E, right?' she replied, with a bright smile as the students flooded past them. 'Mr Watson gave me a list of every teacher and what they teach. Oh, I'm Tegan, by the way.' Pete grinned, as Tegan hesitated for a moment, visibly flushed. 'Which way is it to the Geography room?'

'Oh, it's the first staircase down this corridor,' Pete replied, pointing it out. Sneakily, Tegan peaked at his chest. His toned muscles pressed against the fabric of his blue shirt, before her grey eyes traveled down his arm. He looked back at her and she nodded.

'Thank you.' She stalled again, looking up at him. He'd cropped his blonde hair short and his 6"1 frame made him quite intimidating, but his blue eyes glittered mischievously. 'Well, thanks,' she said again, ducking her head as she hurried off to her first lesson. She fanned herself with her hand. Had it suddenly gotten hot in here?

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The bell for lunch rang finally. Pete got to his feet as the boys piled out the room, before grabbing his jacket. Suddenly, his phone started to ring loudly. Pulling it out, he flipped it open.

''Ello?'

'Pete, you 'ave to get down 'ere,' Lucy's voice flooded down the phone. 'It's Libby. She's gone into labour and Swill shittin' himself.'

'I'm on my way.'

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'Holy cow! I'm dying, I'm dying! Help me, help me! Get this thing out of me! I think it's torn me! Ah! Help!' Libby's hoarse screams reverberated through the hospital waiting room.

'It sounds painful,' said Pete, looking a bit uneasy. Lucy glanced meekly at the door to where Libby was, at the moment, giving birth.

Inside, Swill stared wide-eyed as the mid-wife pulled a baby, an actual baby, from his wife's lower region. A cry broke through his thoughts and he shook his head in disbelief as he realized that the cry was coming from the purple and pink thing that had just popped out of Libby. He reached out to snag the gas and air pump, inhaling deeply.

'Simon.' Libby's desperate gasp made him look up and he stumbled back to her side.

'Congratulations,' beamed the nurse, handing the baby over.

'We have a girl.' Swill nodded, speechless and looking a little pale as Libby cradled the sobbing baby to her chest.

'We've got a little girl.' Slowly, he reached out and touched the baby's blood stained and damp head, before withdrawing his hand.

'I'll… tell the others,' he said in a small voice, before turning and leaving the room. He moved back into the waiting room to find the guys and Lucy staring up at him, waiting to hear what had gone on.

'It's a girl,' he said. The rest of his words were drowned out by cheers and whoops as the lads surrounded him and punched his arm playfully, chattering eagerly. Lucy beamed up at him, squeezing his hand. Then, she moved into the room, the baby girl still sobbing.

'Lucy,' said Libby, still sounding surprisingly bright and enthusiastic after all this time. 'I have a little girl!'

'Does she 'ave a name?' Lucy asked stroking the baby girl's back. The sobs were quieter now as Jenny blinked, confused at the commotion, face red.

'Me and Swill decided on Jenny,' Libby replied, resting her head back against the pillows and shutting her eyes. Lucy continued to beam down at the sobbing infant, before she leaned down to kiss Libs' forehead.

'I'll leave you to rest, okay. I'm going to go and speak to Swill.'

'Okay,' Libby mumbled, as the nurse lifted Jenny up and wrapped her in a towel. Lucy smiled again, before turning and leaving the room. Swill was sat on a chair, eyes wide as he stared into space.

'I'm a dad… I'm a fuckin' dad…' he murmured, still unable to believe that the beautiful thing in there was his. Lucy knelt down in front of him.

'Swill? You okay there?'

'I… I just can't believe it,' he said, meeting her eyes. She was surprised to see he was crying.

'Jenny,' Lucy smiled. 'A little girl called Jenny.' Suddenly, Swill burst into laughter.

'Jenella,' he chortled. Lucy frowned and glanced up at Pete, who shrugged.

'Jenella?'

'Her full name is Jenny Ella Wilkins. Jenny Ella. Jenella, you geddit?' He roared with laughter again, before getting to his feet. 'I best go in and see 'em,' he said, as Dave approached with a coffee.

''Ere you go, son,' the dark haired man smiled. Swill took it, before hugging Dave tightly. Then, he danced back into Libby's room. Lucy laughed as Bov placed a hand on her hip.

'Sounds like a disease,' he muttered, but a grin tugged on his lips. 'Jenella.'

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