"So Jane gave it to you?" I asked. She froze "you eh cleaned my wardrobe, thank you so much you really didn't need too" then she walked out into her room, I followed her but she had shut herself into the bathroom. "Maura, are you going to talk to me?" "There's nothing to talk about" she was crying, why was she crying. "Let me in" I pleaded with her "why?" She said "because I said so" I replied. Eventually after an hour or so she opened door, her face was red and her eyes swollen from crying. I sat on the floor beside her and pulled her in for a hug "what's wrong?" I asked concerned.

"You weren't supposed to find out, not like this. Don't hate me please" " honey why would I hate you?" "Because I'm engaged to Jane" "Maura, maybe I'm missing out on something but isn't that supposed to be a happy thing?" "Your alright with it?" "Why wouldn't I be?". She hugged me and kept crying for ages, wow this woman is so emotional I thought to myself it must be an intelligence thing. Eventually she stopped crying and I asked again why she thought I wouldn't approve of her and Janes relationship. "Well" she began taking a deep breath "the first time I met our mum she noticed my ring and she disapproved my relationship and also said how her children we're very against it. It gutted me but when you said you wanted to get to know me I was so happy that I didn't want to do anything to jeopardise it.

Then when you ended up moving in Jane and I agreed that we wouldn't make you uncomfortable but mum has been threatening to tell you the whole time and she's coming over later to see you, she said if I didn't let her she would tell Kayleigh where her kidney came from". I was furious, what was my mothers problem could she not just stop being selfish for once in her life. "What" I said angrily "so she's been blackmailing you?! She was never going to tell me because she's knows I wouldn't have a problem with it but it was something she knew she could use against you". I was really mad, Maura could tell and started to blame herself "I'm sorry I shouldn't have told you" "no you should have told me a long time ago" I said softening my voice and hugging her. "I was scared" she whispered.

"I know you were.. You say mums coming over later? What time?" I said smiling, a revengeful smile creeping over my face. "Yeah about 6, what are you thinking?" "Wait and see". Maura went to bed for a little while she had a long day and needed to switch off for a bit before mum came but she was relieved that mum wouldn't be able to tell me what I already knew. I text Jane 'hey can you be home at 6.30? Please x'. Then I went and started tidying up around downstairs. About half an hour later Jane text back 'yeah I can, what's up? x' 'Surprise x' I text back.

I went to start on dinner, but then I thought we'd go all out since we were celebrating we could order take out. "Maura I'm going into town, I'll be back soon" I shouted from downstairs and closed the door behind me. I rented a few movies and got lots of junk food. As I was coming out of the supermarket I get a text 'Thank-you xx' it was from Maura, what's she thanking me for I wondered 'for what? haha x' I replied noticing it was 5.30, crap I thought better get home.

I decided to take the bus since it would be quicker than walking. As I was sitting on the bus Maura text me back 'for tidying up, I got up to do it but you had it done xx' 'oh that's nothing, mum can't be talking about us being messy x' 'that's why I got up haha and to get dressed, you nearly home? xx' 'at the top of the street, see you in 2secs x' I got off the bus and walked down to Maura's, I mean home.

I went inside to the kitchen and put the shopping bags in the press under the island. Then I fed Bass and ran upstairs to get dressed, as I was passing Maura's room she jumped out and scared the living daylights out of me. Obviously she thought it was very funny because she couldn't stop laughing. I grabbed her jacket before she put it on and ran into my room with her following close behind "hey! Come back with that!" She laughed. I ran into my wardrobe and through into our bathroom.

I thought I lost her in my wardrobe so I quietly snuck out into her room and looked out onto the landing, I could see the stairs the coast was clear or so I thought. I heard a noise in the bathroom and bolted for the stairs but got mobbed before I got out the door. We both fell to the floor laughing. "Your getting good at that huh?" I said "I was thought by the best" she replied slapping my cheek softly. She yanked her jacket quickly before I had a chance to get a grip on it. "Now go get dressed and don't leave that old hoodie on she'll only be giving out" "yes mother" I said sarcastically "but I love this hoodie" I added. A big smile came across Maura's face "go" she chuckled going downstairs.

The hoodie was one of Maura's from when she was in college, she bought it at her first beach party, her adoptive mother always told her it looked trashy and was disappointed with Maura for going to the party. It for some reason was Maura's favourite piece of clothing and then I somehow ended up stealing it a lot so she said I could have it, she loved that I liked it. I left the maroon hoodie on my bed and put on a top, I'll leave my jeans I thought as I heard the door bell ring. I came downstairs as Maura was showing our mother into the living room.

I went into the kitchen and picked up Bass. "What are you doing?" Maura said giving me an unusual look "introducing Bass" I said as I went into the living room. "Ah Rebecca, how nice to see you. What is that?" She fairly hopped to the point. "This is Bass" I said proudly sitting on the couch with him "He's Maura's tortoise" "and not a dinosaur" Maura added in, we both started laughing "a what?" My mother said "nothing, you wouldn't understand" I said sharply. "How have you been?" She said changing the subject.

"Great" I replied "if you visited more you'd see that" she looked at Maura "well if your sister would let me I would gladly visit you every day, but she said you didn't want me around" she was still glaring up at Maura and then looked at me pretending to be really sad "oh I probably did say something like that" "what" they both said at the same time. "Yeah, Maura was just polite and told you the nice version that is if she actually told you that" her face had a blank expression. Then Jane came in perfect timing I thought "hey guys I'm back" she called. "Oh no Jane" Maura whispered to herself, my mother picked up on it "what Maura having bed problems" Maura's eyes widened. This was my opportunity, mum was sitting across from the living room door so you could see everything in the hall.

I walked out to Jane and Maura went into the kitchen. I gave Jane a hug and said pretty loud "how's my favourite sister-in-law?" Jane push me back and looked at me "y-you know?" Maura came to the kitchen door, she looked straight at Maura "she knows?". Maura nodded showing her hand, she was wearing her ring. She looked back at me "your alright w-with Maura and I?" "Of course I am" she pulled me back for another hug or suffocate me not too sure. "But your mum" she began. "Yes my mother" I cut her off "I was getting to that" turning to look at my mother and walking into the living room " I don't know what game you were playing but it's over, I don't have a problem with Jane and Maura's relationship and I never would have so you can leave and don't come back ever and leave my sister alone."

"Pumpkin you have to understand that it wasn't me, it was Maura who didn't want to tell you" she said trying to sound sweet and slightly wounded. "Mother leave" "I came to give you your birthday present since we won't be here next weekend" she said handing me a card "where are you going?" I asked "we're taking Kayleigh on a holiday to France for 6 weeks.

We've never been on a proper family holiday so we decided that since your not talking to Denis you wouldn't have come anyway" she threw a card at me "not that we wanted you anyway your not exactly family, we're disgusted with you accepting lesbians in you life. Ugh! Revolting" she added and walked out slamming the front door behind her. How can someone you hate so much make you feel so little and sad. I wasn't sad, I was heartbroken how could she be so selfish to me and Maura.

They worked a lot and always said they couldn't take time off so close to Christmas like that. Clearly they lied, I spent 14 birthdays without them and then for my 15th they decided to make me feel bad. Well it worked, tears started rolling down my face faster than a roller coaster. "Becca, you okay?" Jane said putting her hand on my shoulder. I shook her off turned and ran upstairs, threw the card on my dresser and grabbed Maura's hoodie and went under my bed.

Odd place I know, but it was dark, quiet and warm. Maura came up not long after me. "Becca? Sweetheart where are you?" She said worriedly. She knelt down on the floor and looked under my bed. "Come on out" she said giving me her hand. I took her hand but I didn't move.

"Sweetie, what that woman said to you was wrong and completely out of line. She really was out to hurt you just because you have accepted my way of life and I'm sorry this really is my fault. As for your birthday I promise you will have the best birthday ever, it will be so spectacular that your family not being there won't make a difference". I eventually spoke "I will have my family I'll have you and Jane, the only family I actually like and it will be the best because it's the first year I'll have you on my birthday".

"Aww Bec that's so sweet, when is your birthday?" "Next Saturday the 25th" "ooh exactly a month before Christmas" "yeah" I replied. "So would you like to come out now, I want to properly thank you for standing up for Jane and I to Andrea, I loved your plan as well, Jane is delighted and wants to thank you too" "I don't need to be thanked for telling the truth" I said coming out from under my bed and putting Maura's hoodie on. "I have a surprise for you guys" I said while texting the Chinese following Maura down stairs. "Is it that you've got dinner hidden in the fridge" Jane came into hall looking starved. "No... But food is on its way" I said as I went into the kitchen and took out my bags of junk food.

"I decided earlier we would celebrate, my treat of coarse. I got some movies so ye can pick one and Chinese should be here soon" once Maura heard celebrate she headed for the wine but before she poured Jane one I got her a beer since she really doesn't like wine "I love you" she said knowing I got there before Maura, saving her from drinking that wretched stuff. Door bell rang and I went out and collected the food "yum I can smell it from here" Jane said as I came into the living room.

They told me how for the 6 months I lived there it was really hard to keep it a secret. Jane would come in at night when I was asleep, usually slept on the couch and would make sure she was gone before I got up. She couldn't stay in her old place because she let her parents move into it when she moved in with Maura and her sister was staying which meant that there was no room for Jane. I couldn't describe how bad I felt "I'm so sorry, I wish I had figured it out sooner" I said staring out the window.

Jane came and sat beside me "Hun it really wasn't your fault, it was your mums and Maura was so happy to have you around we didn't want to do anything to make you leave. Even I love having you here" she said nudging me "awh I think Jane has gone soft" Maura laughed sitting the other side of me "it really isn't your fault, I don't blame you at all. You have no idea how relieved and delighted I am to know that you've accepted me, my fear of losing you is gone and it feels amazing" she said hugging me.

"You know you guys give me lots of hugs" I said almost like I thought it was weird. I did actually think it was a little strange. They both sat back looking at me oddly. "And is that a bad thing?" Maura asked confused "No.. Just its strange to me like you leave to go to work I get a hug, I'm going to town you give me a hug goodbye, you come home and I get a hug, you two greet each other with hugs. Without sounding insulting or rude but.. Is it a lesbian thing?". They both started laughing "ehm no not really" Jane blurted out. "Becca are you telling me Andrea never gave you a hug before going to work? Or when she comes home? Or if she hadn't seen you all day?" Maura said leaning her head against my shoulder "no? why would she?" I said casually "oh Becca that's so sad" Jane said sadly hugging me, confused I looked at Maura.

"Jane's family always greet each other with a hug, part with a hug, celebrate with hugs.. Basically they hug a lot to show they love and care about each other and I guess in the last 16 years I've just adapted to their hugging rituals" "I guess I better get used to this huh?" I said looking at Jane "Yepp" she said squeezing me tighter, Maura started laughing. "Well at least the dinosaur won't want hugs" I laughed as I noticed Bass slowly coming into the living room to join us. "No just strawberries" Maura chuckled going over to pick him up.