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Jonny Naylor-Maconie smiled to himself as he looked across the pillows at his wife's sleeping face. She looked content in her slumber, her face relaxed. Even after all these years he still had to pinch himself that she had chosen to spend her life with him. His best friend Mo had had her doubts that they could make it last on account of Jac's moods and his ability for annoying her. What Mo hadn't accounted for was how much love could overcome anything. He knew Jac was feeling pressure at work as she was fighting for funding to keep her current research trial going. Her work could still distract her from her family, making it appear that her career was her top priority. Jonny knew differently though; for Jac her job was to save lives and she would unashamedly do whatever it took, even if it went against regulations and caused controversy. Jac believed in giving every patient the chance to live a good quality of life and every loss felt like a failure to her. Jonny knew she felt the same about her girls; every tear, every upset and every scraped knee was a sign of her failure as a mother. Jonny never worked out how she did it being both a fantastic mother and a world renowned surgeon but he made sure he reminded her how wonderful she really was, especially on the days when self-doubt started to creep in. He reached out and gently brushed the strands of her auburn hair that her fallen over her face to one side. As she'd aged Jac had simply grown more beautiful to him. The few lines on her skin failed to give away her true age and yet had the look had softened her. Jonny placed a soft kiss on her forehead before getting out of bed to get ready for a run. He counted it as a success to their marriage that Jacqueline Naylor had long ago given up her 5am career orientated starts in favour of a little extra sleep and breakfast with her daughters. Sometimes you really can have the best of both worlds and his wife, Jonny thought proudly to himself, was a true master at it.

...

Jonny frowned as he watched his daughter slow to a halt at the bottom of their drive. Their morning run had been a long one and Jonny had struggled to keep pace with the nineteen year old. 'What's up Angel?' he called out to her.

'That's Hattie's car' Julia panted, pointing to a mini convertible sat on the top of their drive.

'Pretty fancy for a student doctor' Jonny mused.

'Her parents got it for her after she passed her A Levels' Julia explained with a shrug. 'Although it was before Hattie came out so it's probably the last gift she'll ever receive from them.'

'Are they really that bad?' Jonny asked as he stretched his calf.

'She's an only child, they wanted grandchildren.' Julia could tell from her father's tut he was angry on behalf of Hattie. 'Unfortunately the Greystoke family believe Hattie's sexual orientation to be a phase and told her to get it out of her system before finishing uni.'

'Well I guess it's true, money cannot buy you class' Jonny shook his head sadly. 'You'd better go in the house then Angel, she's come all this way to see you.'

'I'm frightened I'm not going to like what she has to say' Julia spoke softly.

'I know' Jonny nodded empathically 'but you can't leave the poor girl alone in there with your mother. I think that is just far too much to ask of her.'

...

'Jac stop trying to listen in on them!' Jonny hissed at as wife as he led her firmly away from the closed living room door and back into the kitchen

'If that heartless cow is breaking her heart...' Jac muttered darkly at her husband.

'You don't know she's heartless' Ava chuckled as she buttered some toast. 'I actually think Hattie might be quite a nice person.'

'You're only saying that because she happened to go your exhibit last year' Jac grumbled as she sat down at the breakfast bar.

'I know how cool is that right? Julia and Hattie could have met then but somehow missed each other only for fate to bring them together at St James's' Ava sighed happily as added liberal amounts of jam to her toast.

'Sometimes you are so like your mother, trying to see the good in everyone' Jac shook her head with a smile. With her auburn hair, high cheekbones and green eyes it was clear Ava was biologically related to her aunt. Whilst Ava couldn't remember her mother sometimes she would remind Jac so strongly of Jasmine's easy going personality it would take her breath away.

'Well I'm glad our wee miss is like she is, otherwise poor Hattie would have had quite the stony reception this morning' Jonny chuckled as he peeled himself a banana.

'I was perfectly polite thank you' Jac rolled her eyes.

'Lucky for Hattie I got to the door first' Ava smirked. Her face dropped and she became silent as they heard the living room door open.

'Hattie and I are going to go out for a drive' Julia announced as she stepped into the kitchen. She looked happy but her face was tear stained.

'But you haven't had breakfast yet' Jac started to protest

'We'll stop somewhere for breakfast' Julia shrugged. 'We've still got loads to talk about. I'm just going to get quickly get changed and then we'll head out.'

'Well have fun' Jonny smiled encouragingly at his daughter before she left the room.

'I cannot believe you're encouraging this' Jac whispered waspishly at her husband.

'Encouraging what?' Jonny stifled a laugh ' it's just a breakfast date.'

'We know next to nothing about this woman' Jac glowered at him 'for all we know she could be using Julia for her money or her family connection to help boost her career.'

'Was Auntie Jac like this when I started dating Markus?' Ava asked, clearly amused.

'She was worse' Jonny chuckled as Jac glared at him.

'I...erm...I just wanted to say' Hattie spoke nervously from the doorway of the kitchen 'I know you guys don't exactly trust me yet but I promise I wouldn't do anything to hurt Julia. I just think you should give us a chance.'

Jac looked at Hattie, considering her for a moment. It was obvious the young woman hadn't slept well, her skin was pale with dark circles under her eyes. She had a nervousness about her, like someone who was about to enter on an adventure with an uncertain end. 'Hattie I think you should worry less about what others think and more about what makes you happy' Jac spoke as she found.

'Urm ok' Hattie nodded, unsure of what to make of this advice.

'My girls both know you cannot wait for life to work out for you, you've got to do what's best for you and to hell with the rest of them' Jac continued with her lesson. 'If my daughter thinks you're a risk worth taking then I'll trust her judgement. Just don't break her heart unnecessarily and you and I will get on fine. Understood?'

'Yes' Hattie spoke weakly as she nodded.

'Okay I'm ready' Julia spoke brightly as joined her girlfriend in the kitchen doorway.

'Ok then have fun' Jac smiled brightly back watching as the two girls headed up the hall hallway. She turned back to towards to counter top to resume drinking her coffee when she caught the surprised looks on the faces of her husband and niece. 'What?' she shrugged.

'Its 7:30, you're in your pyjamas and you can still intimidate a medical student into a puddle of nerves' Jonny laughed

'Actually the fact she came in here to confront me impressed me a little' Jac mused.

'I think you gave her good advice' Ava kissed her aunties cheek on her way out of the kitchen. 'I don't think anyone has ever told her its ok to just be her before. I'm going to meet Markus, I'll be back for dinner.'

'Tell Amanda lunch on Thursday is fine' Jac called after her niece

'Ok' Ava called back as she reached the front door. 'Oh and Auntie Jac? I don't think it'll do Hattie any harm to be a little weary of you.'

Jac chuckled as she heard the front door close on Ava. She looked up to see her husband still staring at her. 'What?' she frowned at him.

'Just admiring my beautiful wife that's all' Jonny smiled softly as she rolled her eyes at him. He knew she loved his affection really.

….

Julia smiled as she looked across at Hattie sat in the driver's seat. They had the top down on the car and were speeding through the country lanes. They had stopped for breakfast at a little bistro and then headed to Waitrose to buy food for a picnic lunch on the beach. Julia was pleased things still felt comfortable and easy between them. She knew she would never be able to express the relief shed felt when Hattie had started their conversation with the words 'nothing can change how much I love you.' They hadn't gone into details on all that had happened to Julia during the first twelve years of her life but Hattie now knew enough to be able to support her girlfriend and to understand her anxiety a little better. They'd made promises not to keep things from each other, to share in everything, whether it be good or bad. As Hattie slowed down the vehicle to join the queue of cars at the beach carpark Julia spontaneously spoke 'You know I love you right?'

'Of course I do' Hattie chuckled 'how could I not?' she paid the attendant the fee for parking and then looked back at her girlfriend. 'I didn't know life could be like this.'

'Like what?' Julia asked as she looked around for a free space. She pointed one out to Hattie and waited until the car was safety parked before asking her question again.

'I dunno exactly' Hattie shrugged with a laugh 'Just kind of free I guess.'

'Well I'm sure you'll get used to it' Julia laughed, understanding what Hattie meant. She knew her girlfriend had been hiding who she really was from her parents, too frightened of their rejection to ever be any different than the image of perfection they had projected onto her. 'I've had the freedom to just be me since mum and dad adopted me. It's like there were once two mes; the one before who was trapped and then this other one who had to learn what it was like to be safe and not frightened all the time. Now I just feel lucky because somehow I've ended up in this life where I'm respected for exactly who I am as a person.'

'Your parents are pretty amazing' Hattie agreed.

'Trust me, once they've stopped worrying you're going to steal all my money and leave me heartbroken, you'll be a fully-fledged member of the family' Julia laughed 'and then you can see how truly amazing it is to have Jac Naylor fighting your corner for you.'

'About this money that I keep hearing about…' Hattie asked curiously.

'It was compensation from my life before' Julia shrugged as though it was no big deal. 'I didn't want it but Mum made me keep it. Its paying for my uni fees so I guess she was right but generally I try not to think about it.'

'So really there's not much point in playing you for a long con then' Hattie teased.

'Sorry, I'm no millionaire' Julia played along, please Hattie was willing joke around rather than feel sorry for her.

'Ah well I'll just have settle for your beauty instead then' Hattie kissed Julia softly on the lips letting it linger for a moment. 'You're a pretty amazing woman Julia Naylor-Maconie and there is no one on this earth I'd rather spend my new found freedom with than you.'