Note: Sadly I do not own any of the original characters, settings etc. Any new characters are my own creation, as is the story (aside from scenes which also appear in the movie). Any similarities to real people or places is purely coincidence. Enjoy!

Chapter One: From Across The Pond

Donna Buckner stepped off the tube and made her way up the escalator, dragging her suitcase behind her. As she reached daylight and fresh air, it only then occurred to her that she was finally in England. Less than twenty-four hours ago she was in Michigan, and after a persuasive phone call Donna was in another country. It had been at least three years since she had seen her older two siblings and since she had just graduated from university with no job, she decided to visit her family across the pond.

Walking through London, Donna reflected on the past three years. Since her mother died, Shannon, the oldest sibling, had become withdrawn and ultimately moved to England where she met her husband and started a family. Matt had thrown himself into his studies at Harvard, barely managing to keep in contact with his family. And their father, Karl, had always been a distant figure on the horizon of his children's lives. His prominent status in the journalism world meant he was frequently jetting off around the world to cover the latest stories; his children had a better relationship with his voicemail.

*

"Donna! Oh my God, it's been too long! How are you?" Shannon practically screamed as she opened the door to see her younger sister on the doorstep. She pulled Donna into a tight hug, closing the door behind them. The next ten minutes were filled with Shannon chattering excitedly about her new family - her husband Steve and their young son Ben.

Donna felt massively out of place as soon as she set foot into her sister's house. Shannon had always been the one who took after their mother, in both personality and looks. With her dark hair falling softly around her shoulders and her deep caring eyes, Shannon had often been mistaken for her mother's sister rather than daughter. It wasn't that she looked older than her thirties, but more that her clothes taste was more sophisticated than the other girls she had called friends back in America. She wore clothes that looked expensive and were well-tailored, there was never a hair out of place on her head and her make-up was always impeccable. Unlike the younger Buckner sister. Donna's hair was naturally mousey-brown but had been dyed most of the shades of the rainbow since she was fifteen; at present it was a deep plum colour which complimented her deep blue eyes. However, those were the only things that complimented each other. Donna had never shared her sister's passion for nice clothes, instead choosing tight-fitting jeans and bright-coloured tops over Shannon's preference of natural colours. For the first time in her life, Donna felt scruffy in comparison to her sister. After the long flight, her hair had been roughly scrunched into a ponytail, her orange nail polish was peeling and her eyeliner was surely smudged.

It was only when Shannon pulled Donna into the lounge and went to prepare a pot of tea that Donna had a chance to continue surveying her surroundings. Her older sister had done well for herself, obviously. The house was spacious and tastefully decorated, with expensive paintings on the walls.

This Steve bloke clearly had a large bank account, and Shannon seemed relaxed and happy as she served tea in fine bone china cups. As she sank into the leather arm chair opposite Donna, a young boy appeared at the door.

"Donna this is your nephew Ben. Ben, come say hello to Auntie Donna!" Shannon encouraged the young boy who shyly entered the door and went to sit on his mother's lap. He was the definition of cute with his curly fair hair and large blue eyes surrounded by thick lashes. Donna had never been one for children but the fact that this was her nephew had her on her hands and knees playing hide and seek within ten minutes of meeting the child.

A car door closed outside on the driveway and Shannon wore a large smile as she glided out of the room to open the door. Donna could hear her sister and brother-in-law talking in the foyer and a moment later a handsome man in his mid-thirties entered the room.

"The third Buckner, what a pleasure to finally meet the woman my wife has told me so much about!" Steve extended a hand which Donna shook firmly. She still secretly blamed this man for taking Shannon away from her, even though of course Shannon had moved away from America before she met him. It wasn't hard to see why her sister had fallen for this man, with his English charm and nothing about him which suggested arrogance or wealth. His light brown hair was well-groomed, slicked back with gel and his suit was well-fitting and clearly made of an expensive material.

A couple of hours later the three of them were having dinner in the large well-designed kitchen when there was a bang on the door, followed by the doorbell being rung twice and another bang on the door. Shannon shot a look at her husband who sighed and rested his cutlery on his plate before leaving the kitchen.

"Oioi bruv!" A loud voice floated through into the kitchen and Shannon raised her eyes toward the ceiling. Donna gave her sister a questioning look but before a reply could be given the peaceful atmosphere was interrupted.

A man closer to Donna's age than Shannon's entered the room, headed straight for the fridge and helped himself to a beer. Draining half the bottle in one swig he took a moment to look at the unfamiliar face before turning his attention to Steve.

"Bruv, mate. I need t'ask ya a favour. See, what's happened is I've lost a bet with one o' the boys an' I'm going to the match in a bit. What I'm 'ere for is to blag a ton, yeah." The man said, leaning an elbow on the worktop casually as he eyed his brother.

"No can do, Pete. You owe me enough as it is." Steve replied sternly.

"Aw fuck off! You know I need the dough for football!" Pete complained, finishing his beer and helping himself to another. Donna was gobsmacked. She instantly disliked this rude arrogant man, and the look on Shannon's face suggested she felt the same. Pete had his brother's attractiveness but it was marred by the bruised cheek and eye, the cocky look on his face. His clothes were scruffy and the white trainers seemed to be the only thing that looked cared for, aside from his physique. He was muscular and weather-tanned, and Donna could tell he visited the gym regularly. His light hair was very short, almost shaven, and there was evidence of an ancient head wound that scarred the back of his head underneath the hair. His bruised hand was held out to his brother expectantly.

Steve pulled three twenty pound notes from his pocket and held it out to his brother.

"Sixty. That's all you're getting from me. Now piss off." Steve said, ushering his brother out of the kitchen. Pete snatched the notes and stuffed them into his pocked as he passed Steve on his way out.

As Steve returned to the kitchen after seeing his brother out, Shannon looked at Donna.

"And that was Pete, Steve's brother." She said disdainfully.