A/N: Once again, thanks for all the comments. We're both so glad you all seem to be enjoying this AU - it's a joy to write.

Chapter 4

October 2015

Despite his success with his business Charles didn't exactly enjoy hurting people. True, if you asked those he'd worked for he was firm, fair, possibly stuck in his ways at times, but it worked. You didn't reach his level of success without it working.

Elsie had always called him a 'marshmallow', even before his middle-aged spread had set in. She said he was all sharp edges and foolishly phrased comments, but when you got beneath that he was as warm and kind as a man could be - squidgy, she'd said, though he'd rolled his eyes at that on more than one occasion.

He tried to remember that when Alice abruptly ended their phone call after being told he didn't wish to see her anymore. He wasn't really a cruel man, just a bumbling one at times, and he should never have let Robert talk him into dating her anyway. Yes she was young and attractive and vivacious but she lacked the vital element he was searching for - she wasn't Elsie, and he was still too much in love with the mother of his children to contemplate letting someone else into his heart. Robert had argued he only need let her into his bed, but he wasn't that man, never had been.

It was easier being single. The truth was he kept himself that way, just in case Elsie ever changed her mind. He often reflected on how weak he actually was, she probably only need snap her fingers and he'd go back. Oh but how things used to be - the constant arguing, hurting each other, listening to her cry in the bathroom. He didn't want that. They got on so much better now they were apart.

March 2009

Elsie was stomping across the kitchen, taken salad items from the fridge and throwing them by the chopping board as she set about making dinner. "You were meant to pick them up," she said harshly.

"I know. And I forgot and I'm sorry. I said that."

"Do you know how embarrassing it was to be called out of that office because my children are sitting at school waiting to be collected?" She pointed a knife at him, waving it about as she spoke.

"It slipped my mind. I got called into a last minute meeting." Charles laid his briefcase on the kitchen table and flipped it open.

"I was in a meeting!"

"Yes, but yours…"

"But, what? Don't you dare imply yours is more important, don't you dare!"

"Well, you've only just started…"

"You absolute bloody bastard!"

"I hardly think that's called for Elsie." His tone hardened at her words, and he stood his ground now, facing her.

"Not called for?!" She threw the knife she was chopping the tomatoes with to the counter. "What would be called for then, Charles? Don't worry darling, it's fine, I'll do it all. Absolutely sodding everything!"

"I'm not saying that," Charles sighed. "Just that this was one of our most loyal clients. It was imperative I was there. Your clients are new and -"

Elsie cut him off, "Oh, now I understand. My clients aren't as important, certainly not so prestigious as yours. Well, thank you, now I know my place." She returned to preparing the salad.

Charles raised his hands in despair, clearly he couldn't say anything right. He approached Elsie from behind, placing his hands on her shoulders as gently as he could. "I'm sorry. I said I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you…."

"You always intend to," she said softly, "but then…" They were interrupted by the sound of their daughter skating into the kitchen.

"Ha, ha, Daddy, you forgot to pick us up!" Mae teased, twirling in a circle.

"Mae Carson! How many times do I have to say it? No rollerskating in the house!" Elsie snapped. "It scratches the wood!"

"Els," Charles said softly, trying to curb her sharp tongue.

She shot him a steely glare, "You do dinner," she snapped, leaving the half-prepared food and heading out of the kitchen and upstairs. Charles was left with a feeling of guilt, an upset daughter, and a burning roast chicken to deal with.

2015 - late October

The Friday following Lily's netball tournament, Elsie arrived home to find her kitchen covered with scented candles. She sighed as she took in the scene. What on earth had the girls been up to this time?

"We got off the school bus in town," Mae explained when her mother questioned her. "The Candle Shop were having a big promotion… we couldn't resist."

"We got you this too," Lily said, holding out a bag from Lush.

Elsie opened it to find a 'Floating Island' bath melt, the label of which promised to 'transport [her] to a happy place as its exotic fragrances are released.' It sounded heavenly; just what she needed.

"You've been working really hard this week to make sure you could be home early tonight." Mae said.

"Well I did promise to do your hair for this party, didn't I?"

"Exactly and we thought you deserved a nice relaxing evening while we're out."

"Auntie Beryl has made you some of her brownies too… although there may be two less than there were when she gave them to us."

Elsie chuckled, her daughters had definitely inherited their father's sweet tooth. "Did Beryl call round?"

"Only to drop off those and the brochures for her Christmas Cakes. She wants you and Dad to hand them out at work."

"Well, you know your father will order three for himself anyhow," she said, flicking through the mail that Mae had laid on the kitchen table.

"She also mentioned your birthday and asked how the party planning was going."

Elsie groaned inwardly. "And you said…?"

"That's for us to know, Mummy!" Lily said, tapping her nose.

"Oh is it indeed?" She tickled Lily's waist. "And suddenly you can keep a secret can you missy?" She kissed her daughter's head, "Come on, let's go get your hair done and into your dresses or we'll be late for this shindig."

"We can be late Mum," Mae assured her, leading the way up the stairs, "It's good to make an entrance."

She was turning into quite the little woman, Elsie thought as she followed her.

Sinking back in the bath, Elsie closed her eyes and let out a sigh of relief. This was the most relaxed she had felt in a long time - thanks to Mae and Lily. She was lucky to have such kind, thoughtful daughters. She supposed she should thank Charles' genes for that, though she didn't really want to dwell on thoughts of her ex-husband tonight. She'd spent too much time of late worrying about Charles and what might happen with this woman he was seeing. It was clouding her mind and distracting her - both at work and at home.

No. She'd made her decisions regarding her relationship with him a long time ago and returning to them now would only be painful and messy.

Things were so much better the way they were. Simpler.

Her plans for the rest of evening were simple; Chinese food, pyjamas, the sofa, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on a constant loop and a bottle of her favourite white – thankfully Sandra had agreed to drop the girls home after the party so she had no need to go out again. Though she'd made Mae promise to text her every hour and let her know they were okay. Mae could probably handle herself but in many ways Lily was still her baby, despite the fact she would soon be as tall as Elsie!

The welcoming warmth of the water eased her aching muscles and she let her mind drift away as she relaxed. As always, her first thoughts were to the work she'd have to do that weekend and balancing it with spending time with her children. When she'd began, seven years ago, she'd dreamt of a time when she'd no longer have to work weekends, when she'd be organised enough and secure enough in her abilities that it could all be balanced – as yet, that hadn't materialised. Though, if she really thought about it, it was quite obvious that work had become the thing the thing that filled the void left by her absent husband. Anna was more than capable of taking on more of Elsie's workload, but a niggling fear that without work she'd be needed by nobody – given the fact that Charles had left and her daughters were maturing into independent and self-sufficient young ladies – couldn't quite leave her.

She had no fears that the business would suffer or its reputation be damaged in any way were Anna to take on more responsibility. This was about her own insecurities and finding that the decisions she'd made may well have left her lonely and regretful.

When the doorbell rang for the first time she sank down further into the water ignoring it, hoping that whomever was on the doorstep trying to sell her something would bugger off. When it rang for the third time she had no choice but to drag herself reluctantly from the water and don her dressing gown as she made her way downstairs, leaving a trail of watery footsteps upon the carpet as she went.

Switching on the outside light, she opened the door only to find an illuminated Charles blinking back at her, a bottle of wine in one hand and a bottle of Pepsi in the other. "Running late?" he asked amused by her appearance.

"Late for what?" she asked, perplexed, pulling her robe tighter around her against the frosty, evening air.

"Dinner. The girls said to be here for seven thirty. You were making your famous spaghetti."

"I haven't got…" She shook her head. "What?"

Realisation dawned on Charles and his heart dropped. "Have I got the wrong date? I was sure it was tonight?" He pulled out his phone. "I put it in this contraption, but knowing me, I probably did something wrong." He started to tap away and she shook her head knowingly.

"I think we've been set up," Elsie said, putting the pieces together. "Are you coming in," she asked, "because it's bloody freezing and I've just left a hot bath?"

"Oh…erm…" he bumbled, passing her as he entered, realising that she was in fact naked under her robe. "I don't wish to disturb your evening, if you had plans."

"My plans consisted of Chinese food and wine, the latter of which you appear to have brought with you. You're welcome to share the takeaway if you wish."

"Have you ordered from the place I love round the corner?"

She noted the energised tone to his voice as he spoke of the food and smiled to herself, "I haven't ordered from anywhere yet. Why don't you ring while I go and put some clothes on? You know what I like."

His gazed lingered a little too long on her backside as she headed upstairs, trailing down from her swaying hips to her shapely legs. Licking his lips, he shook his head regretfully - there was certainly no place for that! 'She asked you for dinner, old man. Not dessert,' he thought to himself.

He headed into the kitchen, the place that had once been the heart of their family life, and searched around in the end drawer where all the takeaway menus were kept. Choosing food would distract him from the fact she was naked and dressing upstairs and they were completely alone in the house.

The kitchen table was crowded with Mae's art coursework that had been laid out for the past few weeks, so they were squashed into one corner; Charles at the head of the table, Elsie to his right. They'd shared crispy duck pancakes to start – she wouldn't ordinarily have ordered a starter, but as usual Charles had overestimated how much they could eat. He'd gone for his usual sweet and sour chicken and fried rice while she'd had spicy noodles and king prawns.

"So," he said, refilling their wine glasses, "any idea how this came about?"

She put her fork down, dabbing her mouth with a napkin. "You mean the two of us being left alone together? I don't think it's much of a coincidence, I'll say that."

"So they are trying to set us up?" She nodded, sipping her wine. "But why now?" he continued.

"Well neither of us have dated before," she suggested. "Maybe it's come as a shock to them that we might move on." She paused a moment, sliding her finger around the rim of her wine glass. It was time to be honest with him. "Perhaps it's come as a bit of a shock to me as well."

Charles felt his throat constrict at her admittance; he was nervous at the suggestion that she cared. After all this time she was offering him a glimmer of hope and he didn't want to mess it up. "Do you think that I've moved on? Have either of us?"

"Well, I'm not the one who's been dating."

Charles looked at her, an honest expression on his face. "I'm not dating anyone."

For a moment they sat in silence, Elsie staring at her half eaten food. Charles wondered if she'd notice if he drained his entire glass of wine in one go, he was desperately in need of more liquid courage.

"So, aren't you going to ask me what happened with Alice?" he bravely went on, doing his best to keep the tremble from his voice.

"Is it really any of my business?"

"It seemed to be your business the other week." He leant back in his chair, stretching his long legs out under the table, catching Elsie's bare foot as he did so. When she didn't respond, but kept her eyes fixed on the table, he decided to plunge forward. "She wasn't for me," he admitted.

She looked up sharply, her voice barely a whisper. "Why not?"

His eyes were dark as he stared intensely at her, seemingly seeing her for the first time in years. "She wasn't you."

The very air around seemed to shrink in and gather them together and Elsie's fingers flexed forward as she reached to touch where Charles' hand lay. The draw that had always been between them had not lessened as time had gone on, it merely became more clouded by outside responsibilities. But as he leant towards her, and she to him, it seemed inevitable that they'd finally kiss again after so many years of avoiding their mutual attraction.

His lips had barely grazed over hers before she abruptly pulled back, wide-eyed and startled. Her chair scraped noisily back across the floor, as she hastily got to her feet. "I don't think that's a good idea."

He rose to his feet, feeling unsure and unsettled. "It felt like a good idea."

"We both know what came of your good idea three years ago."

"Yeah, you pretended it never happened," he said, his body almost humming at the memory of how it felt to be naked on the couch with her in her living room and then the disappointment when she avoided all mention of it afterward.

"I pretended it didn't happen? At least I was still there the following morning."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Her confusion over her long suppressed feelings for him caused her to behave how she always did in situations of uncertainty, she drew up the walls and let her sharp Scottish tongue get the better of her. "Well it was quite obvious that after getting to fuck me twice, you'd had your fill and –,"

"No, no no! That's not what happened." he said, shaking his hand at her. "Do you really think that I'm such a complete and utter bastard?

"Well…" she shrugged, taking their plates from the table and carrying them over to the sink.

"Hang on, that's not fair," he said, grabbing her shoulder and forcing her to face him. "We've gone three years without talking about this because I thought that was what you wanted, that you thought it a mistake."

"You certainly didn't hang around to ask me."

"The girls were asleep upstairs, would you rather I'd have stayed and they'd found us naked on the couch together?"

"No, but you didn't have to leave. You could have been in the kitchen; you could have made breakfast; a pot of God damned tea would have sufficed."

"And how would we have explained my spending the night?" he asked, his tone incredulous as he watched her stomp about, filling the sink with their dirty dishes.

"You could have drunk too much and slept on the couch." The sarcasm in her voice suggested that she thought these options obvious and the fact that he hadn't even considered them riled her yet more.

"Well, as always, your logic is better than mine." His voice was flat as he turned away from her, digging his hand into his pocket in frustration.

"So that's that. Nothing more to say on the matter?"

"What's the point? Clearly you're always in the right and I'm always in the wrong."

"How is that fair? Why must you always make me out to be some kind of dragon?"

He slapped his hand down on the table. "You see this is why we aren't together anymore, because we're incapable of having a simple, fucking discussion without hurling insults at each other."

She was taken aback, not only by his language but his palpable anger; Charles Carson didn't often lose his temper. "Have I insulted you?" she pressed.

"For God's sake Elsie, you accused me of sleeping with you purely in the interests of gratification. Like there's nothing else between us that could possibly drive my motives."

"What such as the fact that you needed to get laid after being single for two years because… You. Left. Me."

"Hang on." He shook his head, feelings of unfairness and misunderstanding filling his stomach with bile. "I didn't leave you. I didn't leave our children. You made it impossible for me to stay. You told me to go."

"I did not."

"You did," he said quickly. "In fact, you roared it at me. 'If that's how you feel, just go!'"

She turned away, swinging her arms wildly. "For fuck's sake; that was a row Charles. People say things they don't mean in the heat of an argument. You made me feel like a complete slut after that night."

"Don't switch points." He was breathless with indignation, once again exhausted by how quickly they could move from something so pleasant to roaring at each other.

He breathed deeply, attempting to calm himself before he spoke. "So you didn't mean it? You didn't want me to go?" He paused again, she had her back to him and he was desperate to see her face, her reaction to his words. "Should I have stayed?" He couldn't escape the desperate feeling that all those years ago he'd made a mistake by walking away.

When she didn't respond he softly touched her back until she turned to him and he asked her again. "Did you want me to stay?"

"Yes..." she finally admitted quietly, gripping the back of the chair.

"Then why the hell are you pushing me away now just as you did then?"

Any retort she was about to give was cut short by the noisy return of their children, laughing and giggling as they stumbled in through the front door and down the hall and into the kitchen.

Their laughter immediately died out as they became aware of the heavy atmosphere which existed between their parents. Clearly the plan had not gone quite as expected.

2012

The summer of 2012 had been coloured by two things – the Queen's jubilee and the Olympics. There'd been a pull on the country, a kind of national identity and unity that had been missing for many years and it was almost infectious.

For Charles, both a royalist and as English as it was possible for a man to be, it was perfection.

He'd been separated from his wife for coming up to two years now but luckily their split had been amicable and they got on far better in the months following the separation than in the ones that had preceded it. So, as he headed over to their family home, his youngest daughter by his side in the car, he felt no apprehension about spending the night watching the Olympic opening ceremony with Elsie. He could think of nothing better than the four of them together.

Elsie had prepared a delicious roast dinner and they'd shared a bottle of wine between the two of them as they ate. The girls, twelve and nine respectively, were bundles of excitement and practically bounced their way through dinner. So much so that they were excused from the clearing up and spent the time it took for Charles and Elsie to do the dishes to dance around the lounge listening to Now 82.

"I hope it lives up to expectations," Elsie said as she handed a soap-covered plate to Charles for drying.

"I saw some pictures in The Times from the rehearsal, if anything it's added to my excitement."

She smiled indulgently at him, "You're like the kids."

"Perhaps worse!" he said, waggling his eyebrows at her.

"Daddy!" Lily yelled, racing into the kitchen and into the back of his legs. "Come on, it's almost time!"

He dropped the tea towel to the side, turning to scoop Lily up and spin her. "Let's go then!" he said throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her into the lounge.

"Bring the ice cream mummy!" Lily called back in between giggles.

"Yes, do bring the ice cream mummy," he teased, smirking at her.

It was a good night, a fun night, the four of them squashed up on the sofa that had the best view of the television, well three of them squashed up and Lily perched on her mother's knee. She'd been so young when she'd moved out to go live with her father that it never occurred to her that life could be different, but she did miss her mother – especially the cuddles. For Elsie's part, whenever she spent time with her youngest daughter she made sure she showered her with affection, perhaps in an attempt to quell her own pain that tormented her so at living apart.

By the time the ceremony had reached the arrival of the teams both girls were asleep against their parents.

"Should we put them to bed?" Charles asked. The plan had always been for Lily to stay over, she would spend the weekend with her mother and sister and Charles would have them both the following weekend. "Can you manage Lily?" he asked as he got to his feet and easily lifted Mae into his arms. "Otherwise I'll come back down."

"I think I'm okay," she said, getting to her feet and lifting Lily into her arms as she once did when she was just a baby. "Oh, just though…"

When she'd tucked Lily in and emerged back in the darkened hallway Charles was waiting for her. "I guess I should get going."

"Oh, you don't want to see the end of this? Maybe open a second bottle of wine?"

"We could, I guess I could call a taxi, pick my car up tomorrow."

She gave him a small smile, "Good."

They weren't even halfway through the second bottle before they kissed, it was inevitable really. Spending such intimate time together, sharing so much joy with their children. Remembering what it felt like to be together.

She'd been sat beside him on the couch, her legs curled up beneath her, her bare feet pressing lightly against his leg. And when he'd leant across her to place his wine glass on the side table his elbow had brushed her chest and he glanced to her face apologetically.

"Sorry…"

But the look in her eyes had been intoxicating and he'd leant closer, not crowding her but giving her the option, and she'd leaned into him, pressing her mouth forcefully against his.

It was like a storm after a drought, a welcome cascade, overwhelming and invigorating all at once. He'd leaned back against the arm of the couch and she'd moved with him, her body over his, pressed against him.

Perhaps he'd been the one to move it forward when he'd slid his hand up the back of her shirt, his palm against her back, skin to skin. But she hadn't minded, in fact as soon as he'd done it she'd pulled back from the kiss and lifted the top over her head and thrown it aside.

The sight of her in just a lacy bra – after so very long of trying to forget how she looked in just her underwear – instantly pushed him over the edge and he pulled her against him with such force she'd giggled uncontrollably as he'd covered her neck and chest in kisses.

"Oh god, I want you so badly," he panted, feeling her nimble hands working loose his belt buckle.

Together they'd pushed his trousers down and worked her underwear down her legs, pushing her skirt high up her thighs as she straddled him.

"Elsie," he breathed, brushing his thumbs over her nipples through the material of her bra. She'd leant back then, unhooking it herself and letting the material fall loose until her breasts could fill his palms.

"I've missed you," he whispered, placing kisses to the creamy skin. "Missed this."

She cupped his face in her hands, "Stop talking." And she kissed him fiercely.

When she reached back and found the television remote, turning off the coverage, the room was plunged into darkness. The only light a faint one coming under the door from the hall.

He'd felt, rather than seen, her body press against his, the fumbling attempts to find the right angle, her hand reaching down between them to guide him inside her. Then that simultaneous moment of shared joy as he'd sighed her name and she stilled her hips. Leaning her head back as their bodies remembered the other.

He'd moaned so much she'd had to place her hand over his mouth to stop him from waking their girls, but it had been so very long and she was so turned on by the unexpected situation that it had taken barely any time at all for her to climax, Charles not far behind her.

Their rather frantic movements had left them breathless and flushed and they'd flopped back on the couch, Charles kicking his loose trousers off completely and Elsie wiggling her skirt down her thighs and to the floor.

He'd laid back, her body draped over his, completely naked now and free to enjoy the joy of having her there with him now the initial passion was calming. He stroked her skin in the darkness; gentle, delicate fingertips tracing over every curve. And she'd done the same, letting her fingers trace the lines of his face, the broad chest, the thick muscles of his arms.

There were things he longed to say to her, so much to talk through, so many things to make right. But now wasn't the time, it was clear she didn't want to talk, and they knew each other so well. They'd grown up together. Lived life together.

He rolled onto his side, their mouths meeting slowly in a sweet, deep kiss. Her knee moved between his legs as their arms surrounded the other, pressing every inch of their bodies close. How well they fit together, Charles had always thought that, how perfectly they complemented the other - in every aspect of their lives.

This time everything was slowed down. They took their time. Their languid movements increasing the intensity of being back together again. He didn't dare admit that he'd been dreaming of this moment for so long now, that any thoughts of moving on and perhaps finding somebody else had disappeared only a few months into their separation when he realised he just couldn't imagine being with another woman. He'd wondered if perhaps that might change as time went on, but twenty odd months down the line and he still felt consumed by her. Many was the night he'd laid in the dark staring at the ceiling and questioning just why they couldn't make it work, then the arguments would come back to him - slammed doors, raised voices, her crying, the children upset. Missed dates and hurt… that was it, most of all, the hurt.

That all seemed to fade away now, as she moaned her pleasure into his mouth, her fingers gripping his shoulder blade and holding her to him.

It felt so good to be held again, to feel him move with her, he'd always been so gentle, so sure, when it came to the physical side of their relationship. Tender passion. He knew exactly what she wanted, what she needed, and he poured so much affection into it that quite often, in the early days of their marriage, she'd felt overwhelmed by his adoration of her. Now, she never wanted to be without it again.

After, she lay curled on her side facing the back of the couch, and Charles was pressed up against her, his knees at the back of her legs, his mouth still placing kisses along the back of her neck. Elsie had pulled the blanket from the back of the sofa over them but the room was warm, heady in the summer night.

They slept, content to be together.

When Charles awoke the first slants of sunlight were working their way through the blinds in the lounge and he reluctantly let go of Elsie's body to twist his neck and glance at the clock on the mantle - 5:25. The girls would be up and around in a couple of hours and how would they explain this? Their parents naked on the couch? Daddy sleeping over? He couldn't do that to them, not after putting them through the hell of the break up in the first place. He and Elsie hadn't even discussed what it meant, and he needed to get their stories straight before they told anybody that they were giving it another shot.

Reluctantly he got to his feet and dressed in silence. He found his car keys on the table in the hall and tucked them into his trouser pocket before returning to Elsie. Her shoulder was bare and he bent to kiss the freckled skin, pulling the blanket up and over her arm to keep her warm. She looked so peaceful. So very beautiful, and he couldn't help but kiss her again, her head this time, "Love you," he whispered, before leaving.

When Elsie woke, over an hour later, she felt disorientated. Her neck ached and her feet were cold and she turned onto her back stretching out as she glanced about. She noted first of all that her clothes from the previous day were in a neat pile on the edge of the coffee table. That the wine glasses from the evening had been cleared away. That she was alone.

Tugging the blanket around her naked body she sat up, dropping her feet to the carpet, listening out for signs of Charles in the other room. Only when she wandered through to the kitchen it was empty. Mae and Lily still slept and the house was silent and, somehow, cold.

Sinking into a chair at the kitchen table she scanned the room for signs he was there - a note, a text, anything… But no, there was no sign he'd even spent the night. A feeling she hadn't experienced since her teenage years and her first tentative steps into dating filled her chest… the realisation she had been used.

2015

Elsie tapped her knuckles against Mae's bedroom door before slowly easing the door open and peeking inside.

"I thought I'd find you in here together," she said, automatically moving about the room to fold abandoned clothes and lay them over the back of the desk chair. It seemed that despite the fact they had separate bedrooms they always ended up together.

She sat on the edge of the bed, leaning over to where Lily's head rested on Mae's shoulder and kissing her forehead before she did the same to her eldest daughter.

"You know, that was a pretty sneaky thing you two did tonight."

Mae opened her mouth to deny any wrongdoing but Lily got there first, "We're sorry, mum, we just thought…"

"I know what you thought." She patted Lily's leg through the blanket. "And I understand why, honey, but if your father is ready to date then he's ready to date and we just have to accept that."

"Have you accepted that, mum?" Mae said abruptly.

"I suppose, like you, I have to." She got to her feet, "He's waited long enough, it's hardly like either of us have rushed into anything."

"But you know that's because he doesn't want to," Mae pushed. "He wants-"

"Mae. I know you think you're helping but really… stop... now."

The sulking face that Elsie had come to know so well slipped into place and Mae collapsed back against her pillows, "Right," she pouted, folding her arms atop of the bed sheets in a very Charles-like way.

As upset as she was at all that had occurred the movement made her smile, "I'm sorry," Elsie said gently. "I don't mean for the two of you to be upset. But this is how things have been for a while now, and it's better this way, really it is." She stared at her two children, their wide-eyes and open expressions. "My babies," she said softly, squeezing Lily's leg again before she got to her feet.

She headed towards the door, looking back over her shoulder at them. "If you're both sleeping in here then make sure you don't stay up too late. Maybe we could go out for breakfast in the morning, just the three of us."

Lily and Mae nodded slowly, sadly.

"Good. We'll go somewhere nice. Night night."

"Night mum," Lily replied as Elsie closed the door. "So, that's the end of that then," Lily sighed heavily, leaning against her sister. "At least we tried."

"You give up far too easily, kiddo."

"I don't want to upset Mum any more. She was really shaken up tonight. And Dad didn't look too pleased when he left either."

"Yeah, but that just means we've got to try harder to get them to see sense."

"If they don't want each other then there isn't any point."

Mae looked at her younger sister as if she was stupid. "Do you really think Dad doesn't want Mum?"

"No, but maybe Mum doesn't want Dad," Lilly replied.

"If she doesn't want then why, even after five years, does she still wear her wedding ring on a chain around her neck?"

"You're making that up! I've never seen it."

"Well no, it's hidden under her clothes, but believe me it's there."

"So, what do we do now then?"

"Well it's Mum's fortieth in a few weeks, don't forget, maybe we can arrange something for then?"

"Dad needs to get her an ace present," Lily decided, being drawn back into the planning.

"Well we can help him with that," Mae replied. "When Grandma Carson takes us shopping next week, we can scope out some ideas."

Mae turned out the light, and Lily whispered into the darkened room. "Are you sure this won't upset them anymore?"

"It's for their own good." Mae said, with her mother's air of confidence and determination.