Set during Season 2 when Vera's mum is sick and Ferguson comes over for dinner. What happens that night? Rated T for a bit of fluff. Will be M later…

Disclaimer: I do not own Wentworth or any of its characters. I'm not even from Australia!

Joan continued slicing the tomato, eyeing the drugs in front of her and cracked a bit of a smile at the thought running through her head at what she was planning to do with one or two pills. Once she saw that Vera had gone to see to her mother, Joan quickly popped open two days- worth of Mrs. Bennett's medicine container and took the red pill from each. She quickly and quietly slipped the pills into her pocket and put the container back where she found it and continued slicing.

When Vera walked back into the kitchen, Joan had already carved the head of lettuce and the tomato and made a salad as an addition to their dinner, and was placing the heated food on plates.

Joan had prepared two plates, and set one on the kitchen table with a complete flatware setting and a wine glass. She was pouring a glass of red wine when Vera walked in—Vera smiled at the Governor and looked at the impeccable place setting. Her jaw dropped a moment in shock, and then she smiled.

"Why, Governor. You didn't have to go to all this trouble-honest," Vera said, taking a seat as Joan pulled the chair out for her. "It smells delicious."

Ferguson smiled at her, and pulled a chair out for herself and sat down. "Oh, it was nothing, really." She smiled lightly as she watched Vera take a few bites of food. "Just an old family recipe I cook every so often. I always make too much for myself, and I thought you and your mum would enjoy it. And please, call me Joan."

Vera swallowed gratefully and nodded, saying, "well, it is delicious." She noticed that Joan hadn't fixed herself a plate, and looked over at the plate on the counter.

"Umm, Joan…you know, mum said she isn't very hungry, and I don't want that plate to waste away. Have you eaten? You should have it." Vera stood and grabbed the plate on the counter.

"Here, don't get up—I'll—I'll get you some flatware." Vera moved around the kitchen awkwardly, and Joan watched her; she didn't quite have the heart to tell her that she had already eaten this meal twice in one week, and she was not sure if she could handle it a third time.

Vera placed the plate in front of Ferguson and tried to place the flatware in front of her precisely how she had done it for her. She grabbed the bottle of wine from the counter and another glass, and poured the wine, her hands shaking the whole time.

Ferguson stopped her before she could pour a single drop into the glass. "Vera, stop. You're doing too much already. Plus, you're trembling so—have a seat and enjoy your dinner." Ferguson placed her hands delicately over Vera's, taking the bottle of wine and the glass from her hands.

Vera blushed lightly as she felt a warm sensation coming from Ferguson's hands onto her own when she took the bottle and glass from her. Vera nodded and tilted her head down as she sat back in her seat.

Joan sat down in front of Vera and poured herself a glass of wine. She swirled it around a moment before tasting it, and smiled when it went down smoother than she thought it might.

"Vera, I must say. You have excellent tastes in wine." The governor smiled and gently moved her flatware an inch to the left. At least she tried, she thought.

Once again, Vera blushed at the compliment. She had always looked up to Ferguson, but she was always a bit intimidated by her. Part of it was their height difference. Ferguson was almost as tall as two Vera's.

"Thank you, Govern—Joan." Vera smiled and continued eating; trying to make sure she wasn't inhaling the food in front of the Governor. Why was she so nervous all of a sudden? Sure, working so much with her mum had almost driven her out of her mind, but this felt different. Vera had butterflies in her stomach because of the woman enjoying a meal in front of her, and she had no idea why.

The two women talked for what seemed like ages, and after a while, Vera looked at her watch.

"Oh my! Joan, we've talked for nearly three and a half hours!" She giggled at herself for a moment and then stopped. She listened to the background noise for a moment—there was no background noise.

"Vera, what is it? What's wrong?" Joan asked, her smile suddenly disappearing.

"I-I don't get it. This whole time we have been talking, I haven't heard mum once. I think I should go check on her." Vera stood to go check on her mum and Joan grabbed her wrist. "No, no—don't."

Joan hadn't grabbed her with much force, but it was enough to pull Vera back, and she lost her footing for a moment, and landed directly in Ferguson's lap. After they had eaten, they had moved into the living room to talk politics and work, and Vera was almost thankful that Joan was there to catch her.

Vera looked up at Ferguson with wide, puppy dog eyes. "I think, if you go up there now, she will wake up, and you won't get any peace for the rest of the night." Vera nodded in agreement. The silence had been a great relief, and she enjoyed the Governor's company.

Suddenly, Vera realized where she was sitting, and stood immediately. She sat down on the couch beside Ferguson, and until she sat down, she hadn't realized that Joan's hand was still connected with her own. To be perfectly honest, Vera didn't mind, but she didn't know quite what to do when she saw their hands together. She looked down and then looked back at Ferguson, who looked down and realized what she'd done.

She immediately let go of Vera's hand and stood regally, fixing the hem of her green shirt. She grabbed their two glasses and began to head for the kitchen. "More wine, Vera?" Vera nodded as she blushed once more.

Joan walked briskly over to the kitchen and looked at the empty bottle of pinot noir before her. She turned to look in the living room at Vera, who was walking toward her, and said, "I hope you have another bottle, Vera…because it looks like we have finished off the last of this one."

Vera smiled and placed her hand over her mouth as she hiccupped. "I reckon I don't need any more. be quite useless to mum if I have another glass, anyway. Unless of course you'd like some more?" Vera made a hand motion to the fridge and opened it. There were plenty of fruits and vegetables, and various other foods, but no wine.

"It's alright. I should be getting home." Ferguson said, standing over Vera, only about a foot behind her.

Vera sighed quietly for a moment. "Alright. Thanks again for this. I can't tell you how grateful I am." She smiled at Ferguson and watched as the older woman smiled back at her.

"It was my pleasure, Vera." Ferguson placed a hand on Vera's shoulder, and went to turn away to grab her stuff and leave, when she felt a soft hand on top of hers. Ferguson turned around and saw Vera biting her lip while holding Ferguson's hand.

Ferguson smiled at Vera, and felt a shock go through her body that she hadn't felt in years. Ferguson leaned down and went to kiss Vera on the cheek, when Vera turned her head and caught Ferguson's lips with her own, if but for a moment.

Vera took a step back and covered her mouth. "I-I…I…Govern—Joan, I'm so sorry. I—I didn't for that to happen, I-" before Vera could finish her sentence, Joan had already removed her hand and placed her lips on Vera's again, but this time she held them there for a few seconds. She then stood and realized what she had done. Ferguson had let her guard down, even if just for a moment…she couldn't let this continue.

Ferguson turned away swiftly without a word, grabbed her things, and headed for the door. Vera followed closely behind. "Vera, I am sorry. It's getting late and I must be going. Do tell your mother I said good night."

As soon as Joan had her hand on the door, she heard Vera say something.

"Stay."

Joan turned around.

Vera's eyes were almost pleading. "Please stay. You don't have to go."

To be continued…

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