Chapter One – Good Morning
With a protective arm draped across her now heavily pregnant girlfriend, Caroline Elliot looked peaceful and content as she slept snuggled closely into Kate's back, much as she had done on the night of their rather public reconciliation. The shrill, insistent bleating of Caroline's alarm rudely interrupted their slumber, heralding the start of another day – another day of planning, meetings and patrolling the corridors of Sulgrave Heath. Another day away from Kate. Caroline hated climbing into bed each night, however tired she was from the day's demanding schedule, because sleeping meant waking up the next day and leaving her lover, again, whilst she went and kept everything running as it should at the school. But it wouldn't be long now before Kate's baby, their baby arrived, and she would have two whole weeks to spend with her girlfriend and their little bundle of joy. Undoubtedly those two weeks would pass much quicker than the nine hours of school each day appeared to, as Caroline counted down the intolerably slow minutes until she could see her Kate.
The gentle smile fell from Caroline's face as the alarm roused her from her sleep and she quickly reached out an arm towards the offending item, hoping to silence it before it woke her lover. Kate though, being, as she was, in the late stages of pregnancy, was only enjoying a light sleep thanks to the continuous movements of her unborn child who seemed to have a natural ability for gymnastics especially at inconvenient times. Kate gently snuffled and stirred as Caroline reached her arm back across her girlfriend and pulled her closer to her, burying her nose into the back of Kate's neck.
"Sorry sweetheart"
Kate stretched slightly and slowly manoeuvred herself, letting out a tired little sigh as she did, until she was lying on her back and could see the beautiful face and piercing blue eyes of the woman she loved.
"Morning" She mumbled groggily, stretching again. "That's okay, bump was practicing her somersaults again so I was only half asleep anyway."
Caroline looked at her lover tenderly. Every day she was surprised by just how much she loved Kate and their unborn daughter. It wasn't something she had expected to be going through at such a stage in her life and it still scared her a little sometimes when she thought about it. But she knew that without Kate she was miserable, not even half the woman she was when they were together, and with Kate came the bump and so, as the days and weeks had passed since Kate had turned her whole world upside down once again by coming back to her, Caroline had slowly, unknowingly, fallen in love with bump as well.
"She's going to keep us busy isn't she?" she mused, smiling at her girlfriend. "A little ball of energy."
"Yup, I think we're going to have our hands full with this one" replied Kate, returning Caroline's smile. "You ready for constant attention-seeking, crying, dirty nappies and sleepless nights?"
Caroline took a deep breath and her eyes widened slightly as she took in the reality of what her life would be like in just over a month's time. Nervous didn't even begin to cover how she was feeling about it if she was honest but she wanted Kate, needed Kate, loved Kate so much that losing her wasn't an option. "As ready as I'll ever be!"
Kate wasn't entirely convinced by her girlfriend's brave attempts to seem non-plussed by it all and went to speak but instead found her lips being taken by Caroline's into a gentle, open-mouthed kiss filled with love and tenderness. Kate dissolved into the kiss. Completely lost in it and not caring a jot if she was never found again. Kissing Caroline felt like heaven. It took away her senses and left her breathless. The effect this woman had on her was like nothing she had ever felt before. Slowly Caroline pulled away, giving Kate one last, soft kiss before she did. Kate let out a little sigh at the loss of contact but couldn't help but smile as she opened her eyes and saw the love that Caroline had poured into the kiss reflected now in those beautiful blue eyes.
"mmmmmm, what a lovely start to Valentine's Day" smiled Kate
Caroline's eyes widened and she gasped a little as she realised that she'd forgotten what day it was and that her plans had already gone awry. She quickly disentangled herself from Kate's warm body and jumped from the bed, pulling down her thin silk nightie that had ridden up slightly in her sleep, and scampered around the bed towards the door.
"Stay there" she instructed, leaving a rather bemused Kate wondering what on earth had just happened. One minute she was happily cuddled up with her gorgeous blonde and the next she was alone in bed without any kind of explanation. Was this Caroline losing her bottle and running off in sheer panic? Please God, not again.
Ten minutes later Kate was still alone and about to head downstairs to see what on earth Caroline was up to, before she went crazy with all the possibilities of what had made her girlfriend jump from the bed as if it were alight, when she heard movements on the staircase. Caroline slowly padded barefoot across the landing and deftly pushed the door open with her foot – her hands occupied by the tray of breakfast that she was delivering. Kate, seeing the door open, sat up a little in the bed ready to question her girlfriend when she saw the tray appear through the doorway, followed by a slightly sheepish looking Caroline. A huge grin spread across Kate's face as she took in the sight before her. Caroline had prepared her a selection of breakfast goodies – tea, toast, pastries, yoghurt, and fresh berries, and had laid a single red rose across the tray on top of an envelope marked simply 'Kate'. Seeing Kate's face beaming back at her, Caroline let out the breath she had been holding and visibly relaxed, smiling back at Kate. She placed the tray on the bed next to Kate. "There's pancakes ready to go as well." Kate's lips were once again taken into a tender, single kiss. "Happy Valentine's Day." Kate was speechless. All she could do was stare, slightly open-mouthed, at the blonde before she pulled herself to her senses and replied "Happy Valentine's Day" the smile returning to her face.
"Now, you enjoy that whilst I shower and get ready for work, and when you're done I'll finish preparing your pancakes" a slight air of 'headmistress Caroline' surfacing to cover up the big softie within that she had momentarily released.
Caroline went about her morning routine, whilst Kate tucked in to the breakfast lovingly prepared for her. Kate was touched by Caroline's thoughtful, romantic gesture as she knew how hard it would have been for her shy girlfriend to pluck up the courage to do something like this. After years of being in a loveless relationship with a hapless idiot for a husband, Caroline was still adjusting to being an equal in the relationship and often felt overwhelmed by the depth of her feelings for Kate, rendering her incapable of expressing them.
Ready for the day ahead and now in full headmistress mode, Caroline strutted across the room to perch on the edge of the bed next to Kate. So magnificent.
"How was your breakfast?"
"It was lovely. Thank you" she said earnestly, trying to convey just how much she appreciated the trouble that Caroline had gone to for her.
"Good. Are you ready for your pancakes?" Looking at her watch.
Kate thought for a second before replying "I'm quite full actually. That was quite a feast you prepared!"
"Okay" Caroline said smiling "Well the batter's ready on the worktop, so if you get peckish later they just need a couple of minutes on each side and there are plenty of toppings to choose from in the fridge.
"Okay, thank you."
"Right, I'd best get going, I've got a meeting with Gavin first thing and need to read through a few things before we start"
Kate looked disappointed. She loved spending time with Caroline and relished having her close by so that she was there….just in case a sudden urge arose to kiss her or stroke her soft hair. It killed her having to wait all day for her lover to return so that she could do the things that she had spent hours daydreaming about.
"You'll be back by half four though won't you?" Kate said hopefully.
Caroline scrunched up her nose as she thought about her schedule for the day. "Half five"
"Why?" Kate pouted "You shouldn't have to go in early and stay late Caroline! Especially today."
"Who says I'm staying late?" Caroline replied cheekily
Confusion was etched all over Kate's face as she looked at her girlfriend questioningly.
"I might be going out to pick something up…or something.." she teased.
Kate's confusion quickly changed to comprehension. "You mean you've left it to today to get me a present?! That's not like you, Little Miss Organised!" Returning Caroline's cheeky, playful banter. Giving as good as she got.
"Well, when you've got four women on the go it can get a bit tricky keeping track of everything. It must have slipped my mind.." Caroline deadpanned.
Kate's mouth fell open in shock and she was left utterly speechless until Caroline, no longer able to keep up her little joke, let out a gentle laugh, and Kate released the breath she hadn't even realised she was holding in.
"That'll teach you to doubt me Miss McKenzie" she said cheekily, with an impish grin. "I said I was picking something up, that's all. It was chosen and ordered weeks ago I'll have you know.."
Kate gazed at her girlfriend lovingly, rather relieved that she was, after all, the only woman in her life. "You didn't have to get me anything really Caroline. Having you back in my life is enough. And you've already spoiled me rotten by making me that gorgeous breakfast in bed!" Tenderly stroking Caroline's face.
"Yes, well, I wanted to. I've got a lot of catching up to do for all the time we've missed out on.."
The air was suddenly weighted with a tension – full of regret and guilty feelings on both sides.
"So….I wanted to try to show you just how much you mean to me and that if you'll have me I'm here for the long haul"
"I'll have you" Kate smiled.
"Good" Caroline returned her lover's tender smile and loving gaze, almost getting lost in those dark eyes that she swore were a bottomless well of emotion, before snapping herself back to the present moment. "Right, I need to go" she said standing up from the bed. The disappointment returned to Kate's face. Caroline leant back in and took her lips for one last kiss to keep her going for the day before turning to leave. "Oh, and I expect my dinner on the table at 6:30 sharp" She threw over her shoulder, continuing their playfulness.
"Ha, you'll be lucky! Have you seen the size of me? I barely fit in the kitchen these days!"
"You'll have to take me out then….somewhere nice.." and with that she was gone.