A/N: Contains references to a fic I've written called "Unexpected" but there's no need to have read that fic to read this. Also reviews are great. Thank you so much to those that I've already received. You are all great.

As Sian Powers turned the corner, she was caught by such a strange case of deja vu. Of course this time the roles were reversed and it was a different girl curled up on their bench. It broke her heart to see how small her ex-girlfriend seemed to be.

Their eyes connected across the street and for a moment time slowed. It hit the blonde's chest, how pained Sophie's eyes were. She tried a smile but even she knew it was a half effort. As was the half hand wave that she lifted as she crossed the street.

This was never going to be easy.

"Hiya" Sophie said softly.

Sian sat beside her ex-girlfriend and they both leaned back toward the street.

"Soph" Sian breathed.

"Thanks for the card. It was very kind of you" Sophie turned toward her after a moment.

"Well, it was the least I could do" Sian said dolefully. "I didn't know whether to knock or not. I don't know the etiquette in this situation" Sian explained.

"I don't think there is one. Uncharted territory" Sophie smiled wistfully at Sian and then lowered her gaze back to her lap.

"I'm so sorry, Soph" Sian said consolatory. On instinct she took the brunette's hand. Their fingers entwined and it felt natural. It had been a long while since Sian had clasped soft hands. Blokes never had that.

"Y'know if you need to talk, you can" Sian offered. Her mind returned to all the times when they had spent endless hours talking about nothing and everything. Even before any romantic notions had crept into their brain. Sophie had needed an ear back then. Sian had wanted to be there for her best friend. Even if it was all family, family, family. It hadn't seemed strange at the time that Sophie never really needed to talk about much else.

"You don't need to do that Sian. I'm Okay" Sophie said weakly. It didn't seem like even she was convinced though. Sian understood that she'd have to push Sophie to open up. It was always this way with Websters. They didn't like to talk about feelings.

"Look Sophie, I only met her once, that night in Newcastle, but she loved you fiercely. I mean, I called you a lying cheating cow and she defended you" she chuckled. Sophie lips turned upwards at the corners for the first time since Sian had sat down. The blonde took this as progress.

"That is very rare" Sian said determinedly.

It had really shaken her how rattled Sophie looked in person. In her mind, the brunette had always been sturdy. Webster's were built to be shouty Manc fighters. It was in there bones. But Sophie looked as if she'd collapse in on herself. And Sian would not let that happen again. It had nearly killed Sophie before and she'd be damned if it happened this time.

It was true that Sophie Webster had betrayed her. And they'd been broken up a long while. But that didn't mean that the brunette meant nothing to her. She'd always be there for Sophie Webster. She couldn't help it.

"It just doesn't make any sense to me" Sophie shook her head. "Maddie was a good person. We were planning a life together" her voice choked. "And now it's gone" Sophie wiped a spare tear quickly.

"So what do I do now?" Sophie whispered as she turned and looked directly into the blonde's eyes.

It hurt Sian's chest to see such doubt in her ex-girlfriend's eyes. It had always been Sophie who had her faith to keep her sturdy. Unlike others whom she had met since that just decided to let the world burn, it was always that faith that kept her from joining them. Now it seemed that even Sophie Webster was lost on the tether of meaningless tragedy. And if that happened what hope did the rest of them have?

"You will get through this Soph" Sian squeezed her hand. "You're already stronger than I thought you'd be" Sian chuckled trying to lighten things up.

"Maybe" the brunette shrugged and continued "After the service tomorrow, I think I'll move out. I can't stand living there. Blank Slate. That's what I need" Sophie shrugged assuredly.

Sian laughed relieved. Sophie looked at her surprisingly.

"See. I knew it" Sian shaked her head. "Sophie" Sian paused turning directly towards her. "You always have said that everything happens for a reason. Well, Maddie made you strong. She made you see there's more than these cobbles. Because there is" Sian paused. "I had to lose you to see it" the blonde finished.

Sophie nodded her head as brief tears dropped from her eyes. They pulled each other into a desperate embrace that felt endless. Neither girl wanted it to end but as with all good things...a phone buzzed.

Reluctantly they broke apart, and each checked their phones. Sophie silently held up her own and read it silently.

"It's my dad, he wants to know where I am" Sophie shook her head.

"I best get going" Sian smiled as she stood up.

"You can come to the service if you like" Sophie offered as she stood up from the bench.

"I think the last thing you need is more "street drama" Soph" Sian chuckled. "No, I'll stay away but y'know if you need a shoulder…" Sian trailed off as she turned away.

"Of course" Sophie smiled as she headed back down the cobbles.

It was that genuine smile that Sian Powers carried with her into bed that night. It was a small piece of solace in such a world of outrageous heartbreak.