Nikki frowned as she woke, her head pounding and her mouth as dry as the Sahara. She reached out a shaking hand for the glass of water she'd left by the bed before noticing there was now a box of paracetamol there too. It was only when she saw the time, 5.17 that she realised Christine must be home. She carefully sipped at her water and swallowed two paracetamol before changing back into her clothes, putting the pyjamas in the laundry basket she found in the bathroom and making her way downstairs, "hi" she said softly as she walked into the living room where she found Christine laid out on the sofa, the tv on low and a book in her lap.

"Hi" Christine said softly, "I didn't wake you did I?" she asked as she sat up slightly, gesturing for Nikki to sit beside her.

"No" Nikki shook her head, "I erm, I don't usually sleep that long, even at night."

"You look better for it" Christine said honestly, "how are you feeling?"

"I've been better" Nikki admitted quietly, bowing her head, "I can't believe I was so stupid. I loved Vix, I don't know why I did it."

"We all make mistakes" Christine said softly, putting her hand on top of Nikki's, "God knows I've made enough."

"I screwed up in the army, I messed up with Eve, with Lorraine, with Vix…Maybe I should be the one leaving."

"You're one of the best English teachers I've ever worked alongside."

"You're just saying that."

"No, no I'm not Nikki, you should have seen how disappointed your class were when they found out I was going to be teaching them today and then not you. Anyone that can keep Barry Barry out of trouble for more than five minutes must be doing something right."

"I don't know what to do with myself anymore" Nikki admitted, "at work Sue and Hector are constantly there to remind me how stupid I was and my flat is full of Vix's things."

"You can stay here until you're ready to go back to your flat if you like" Christine said softly, "and before you say anything you won't be imposing or putting me out or anything like that, in fact I'd be glad of the company" she confessed, "if you don't want to sleep in Connor's room I can make up the spare bed for you. And you know if there's anything I can do at work to make things easier for you you only have to say."

"Thank you" Nikki whispered.

"It's okay" Christine said softly, "why don't I make you some toast or something and then we can go and get you some clothes and things."

"Thank you"

"It's not a problem Nikki, really, you don't need to thank me" Christine squeezed Nikki's hand softly before walking into the kitchen to make Nikki some toast. She smiled softly when she walked back into the living room to find Nikki curled up on the sofa like a child, her knees curled tightly to her chest, as once again she slept soundly. Christine pulled the blanket from the back of the sofa and carefully covered Nikki with it before taking up her original space on the sofa and closing her eyes planning to catch 40 winks herself.

Connor didn't bother to knock, he just let himself and Imogen straight in, hoping to surprise Christine. Imogen ran upstairs to the bathroom once they were inside as Connor walked into the living room looking for his mother, hoping to surprise her, however he was the surprised one when he found Christine asleep on the sofa playing big spoon to none other than Nikki Boston

"Is everything okay?" Imogen asked when she came back downstairs and found Connor stood in the hallway.

"My mum's asleep on the sofa" Connor frowned, "with Miss Boston."

"What?" Imogen frowned.

"Go and have a look" Connor pointed to the open door, "she's asleep on the sofa with Miss Boston."

Imogen walked into the living room and couldn't help but smile, "they look so peaceful" she said softly to Connor as she saw the two women who had somehow curled into each other on the sofa.

"Yeah" Connor picked up their bag and slipped his hand into his wife's, "let's go upstairs so we don't disturb them."

Nikki was the first to wake an hour or so later and she smiled softly as she felt the arm around her waist, forgetting for a moment that Vix had gone, but then it hit her like it always did, Vix had left the country just to get away from her. Her head was too fuzzy to work out where she was though and she felt safe and comfortable so she didn't move until she became desperate for another glass of water.

She slowly made her way into the kitchen and almost dropped her empty glass in shock as she saw Connor stood in the kitchen getting drinks for him and Imogen, "hi" he smiled.

"Hi" Nikki whispered.

"I erm, I saw you and my Mum" Connor said awkwardly, "I just want you to know that whatever's going on with the two of you I'm cool with it, as long as you're both happy."

"No, nothing's going on between us."

Connor nodded, "right" Nikki knew he didn't believe her, "well, when she wakes will you let her know me and Imogen are upstairs."

"Yeah" Nikki nodded, contemplating just leaving and going back to her flat but she couldn't just leave when Christine had been so kind to her, so instead she poured herself another glass of water and took a packet of cigarettes from her bag, stepping out of the back door before she lit one, feeling the tension beginning to leave her body as she slowly exhaled.

"I didn't know you smoked" Nikki jumped slightly, unaware Christine had woken.

"Yeah, I used to, in the army and when I'm stressed."

Christine nodded, "can I?" she asked holding her hand out. Nikki nodded and handed the smouldering cigarette over, inhaling deeply before sighing slightly as she exhaled, "it's been a while" she admitted, taking another drag before handing the cigarette back.

"Connor's here" Nikki revealed why she was suddenly so tense, "when I woke up we were laid together, you had your arm round me and he saw us, he thinks we're together."

"He, he what?" Christine spluttered.

"He told me whatever was going on between us he was okay with it so long as we were both happy" Nikki said as she finished her cigarette and ground the end against the stone of the house before dropping the butt into the cigarette packet.

"I'll go and talk to him" Christine smiled softly.

"I'll get off, go back to my flat." Nikki said quietly.

"You don't have to, even if Connor's here I've still got a spare room, I just need to make the bed up, it's no problem Nikki, you're welcome to stay as long as you want to."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive" Christine's hand found Nikki's again, giving it a gentle squeeze, "why don't you go and relax in the living room or something, I'll go talk to Connor."

"Christine…"

"Nikki" Christine said softly, "you've said yourself you don't want to go back to your flat right now, you are more than welcome to the spare room, and for tonight at least I won't take no for an answer. I'll make up your bed when I've finished talking with Connor. I mean it Nikki, make yourself at home."