Allie was furious. Angry at the way her girlfriend had treated Bea the previous night, angry at the way she lied and made out everything was perfectly fine after the redhead left even coming up with the excuse that the older woman had been called away from the evening by something important. She'd never had Charlotte down as the jealous, possessive type but maybe she was completely wrong about her. They hadn't known each other that long and Allie attempted to recall if there were any signs of that behaviour before but there wasn't. She was always so laid back, so chilled. A guy tried to give the blonde his number around a month ago and as she politely declined it, Charlotte didn't even blink. It didn't even phase her then. Allie sat in Bea's office, tempted to call Charlotte straight away to let her know how out of line she was but didn't. Instead, she waited on the redhead finishing up with her last client, burying her head into a magazine in an attempt to cool her mood a little.

Bea was finishing up at the front of the salon, after locking the main door, she sweeped the floors, tidied up and headed through to the back room, finding the blonde reading the magazine she had bought earlier in the week. Allie lifted her gaze as soon as she heard Bea return.

"Hey. All done?"

"Yeah," Bea nodded, clicking the door shut behind her. "All tidied away and I've locked the door. Can I get you a drink?"

"Sit yourself down, I'll get them," Allie insisted, placing the magazine down before she stepped out from behind the desk. Disappearing for a few minutes, she returned with two mugs of coffee, handing one to the redhead who now looked a little nervous. Allie took up the other seat, staying silent for a few seconds but that only made the older woman look even more on edge. "You alright?"

"Hmm," she murmured, a forced smile appearing on her lips. "Ach, I'm just not really a talker you know,"

"I know. If you'd rather not say anything about what happened before then you don't have to,"

"You've been waiting back here for over an hour so we could talk,"

"I have but if you aren't ready then I'm really not going to force anything out of you. I can see how hard it is but I just want you to know that if or when you do want to talk then I'm here,"

"Therapy sessions?" Bea snorted harshly, immediately regretting it afterwards. Allie was being incredibly sweet, she didn't deserve a smart ass attitude in return. She cursed herself silently.

"No. I'm here as a friend,"

"Sorry, I didn't mean that,"

"I know you didn't," the blonde smiled knowingly.

"This is new to me," Bea began, circling her index finger around the rim of her coffee mug before she found the course to look into the blue eyes that were watching her intently. "I know we haven't known each other very long but something in me, tells me I can trust you and that scares me because I rarely get that feeling. Franky aside, I don't talk to anyone, especially not about all that happened before,"

"I get that and that's why I won't force you to tell me anything you don't want to. I'm a good listener and if you feel like you can trust me, great. But we'll talk about whatever whenever you want to, not before,"

"I want to, it's just...difficult because,"

"It's alright. Take your time,"

"All I'd ever known since I was young was Harry, he was flash, nice to look at, everything was fine to begin with and the pregnancy wasn't planned but he was happy, we both were. Even when Debbie came along everything was ok for a while then something in him changed," Bea paused, Allie didn't interrupt so after a breath to steady herself, the older woman continued. "I remember the first time so clearly, like it happened yesterday. Debbie was having a sleepover at her friends, I was working late and because I got home later than usual, he accused me of being with another man. I hadn't, of course but he wouldn't listen. I've never seen rage like it before, at least not in him, he was totally different to the person I knew. He kept at me, kept demanding to know who I'd been with and he hit me pretty hard in the stomach,"

"Bea," Allie almost winced, swallowing the lump that had appeared in her throat. She had already hated what she'd heard and she knew it was going to get a lot worse.

"It's alright," the older woman insisted, her tough exterior still holding herself together like it had done for years. "After that, it became more regular and it was for any reason too. If I was late home, if dinner was late, if it wasn't ready on time or wasn't to his liking. You're probably sitting there wondering why I stayed with him for so long,"

"No. I'm not sitting here judging you for anything. It would be easy for me to sit here and ask, why didn't you leave him. I know it it's not as easy or as simple as that,"

"All I thought about the whole time was Debbie. That and I was fucking terrified. I wanted to leave with her, of course I did. I wanted to pack up and take her away but what would I have ever have said to her? How would I have explained to her that I had taken her away from her Dad? She had no idea at the time, she loved him and even if I did get anywhere, he would have found me,"

"Does she know anything?"

"Some things yes but not everything. She doesn't know just how bad it got at times. I managed to hide a lot of things from her then he'd hurt me differently. He'd come home drunk, fall into the bedroom and demand things, things I'd never want but he'd just take anyway,"

"He forced you?"

"Whenever Debbie was out, it was always when she was gone thankfully. He was so adamant I was seeing some other guy, I don't know how because I'd only ever leave the house for work. I shut myself off, hardly ever seen the girls unless they popped into the salon but that suited him, he never did like any of them, especially Franky,"

"I'm so sorry you had to go through all that. How the hell did you escape from him?"

"I was supposed to meet Franky and the girls one night but I didn't show up, he wouldn't let me leave, he was so violent, I was so scared. It went on for over an hour then next thing I knew, Franky was by my side in the hospital. He'd broke my cheekbone, cracked my ribs. She saved my arse, I wouldn't be here now if she didn't come to the house that night,"

"And him?"

"He was arrested then charged. He got given twelve years, seven months in prison,"

"That's nowhere near enough for a bastard like him,"

"I know. I was hoping he'd get more, much more but at least he got something because for so long, I didn't see it ending, not for me and if it did, I was sure it would only have been because he'd killed me,"

"He won't be able to ever hurt you again,"

"I'd never let him. He sent a letter to Debbie a few years ago, painting me as the devil who sent her Dad to prison but she's smart, she knew it was bullshit and she hates every part of him. He's got nothing and last I heard, he was getting a really tough time in there,"

"That's what he deserves,"

"It's funny isn't it, how someone so vile, so twisted can give you something so beautiful, so precious,"

"Yeah well, Debbie is all her Mum," Allie said with the flash of a smile. "I mean it, she's lucky to have you. I thought you were amazing anyway but after hearing all you've been through, the strength you have, you're incredible,"

"Thank you but,"

"Even if you don't believe that about yourself, I do,"

"You see why your stupid ass girlfriend throwing her weight around meant nothing to me?"

"I'm going to sort that, I promise,"

"You don't have to do anything,"

"No, I do. She was out of line, you did nothing wrong and she had no right to start throwing her weight around. No one is going to dictate to me who I'm friends with, I'm so angry with her,"

"What are you going to do?"

"Talk to her, give her the chance to tell me the truth,"

"And if she doesn't?" Bea asked.

"I can't be with someone who lies to me," the blonde said simply, pulling herself up from the seat she'd been comfortable in. "Are you going to be at home tonight?"

"As soon as I leave here yeah,"

"Can I give you a call later then?" She asked, Bea nodded. "I best head home, I want to be back before she gets in from work,"

As soon as Allie left the salon, Bea left too, making it home shortly after six. Debbie still hadn't arrived home, so instead of cooking a meal, the redhead opted for a light snack, hunger not overtaking her stomach like it usually would have. Making the most of some quiet time around the house, Bea grabbed her sketchbook and pencils from the side table before she started a new piece. It had always helped her relax in the past and she much preferred that to flicking on the tv.

She'd been working on it for thirty minutes when she heard her daughter arrive home. Placing her book and pencils back on the table, she made her way to the front door just as Debbie was kicking off her shoes.

"Hey Mum, sorry I'm late, my train was cancelled, so I had to take the next one and my phone ran out of battery before I could text you," the young brunette continued, only stopping when she looked up and caught glimpse of her Mum's mouth. "What happened?"

"Last night when I was out with Franky," Bea started, she wasn't going to lie, at least not completely. She decided Debbie didn't need to hear about Allie's highly possessive girlfriend. "I was just caught up in something, wrong place, wrong time. It's ok, honestly. Have you eaten?"

"Yeah, I grabbed something in town. You sure that's ok, it looks painful,"

"I'm fine, Deb. It's barely a scratch,"

"Keep forgetting you're a total warrior," the young Smith laughed lightly. "I'm just going to grab a shower. You wouldn't mind helping me study for a bit afterwards?"

"Course not, what's on the agenda tonight?"

"Biology. I'm usually pretty good with it, I just need a bit of practice with some questions and answers,"

"Great, well we'll set about that whenever you're ready,"

Both Smith woman spent a solid hour and a half of the evening with their heads buried in Debbie's books, Bea setting up little mock tests for her Daughter who passed every one with flying colours. It was her second exam in the morning and the young brunette was feeling confident after spending extra time revising. Placing her books away, Debbie grabbed the red throw over from the sofa, placing it over herself and her Mum before she found an old film on the tv. They settled down, the younger Smith cuddling into Bea, who loved moments like this. She'd tried to make it regular more recently, knowing they hadn't done it enough of late.

Debbie ended up engrossed in the movie that was playing out, completely unaware that her Mum's mind had drifted elsewhere, focused on a certain blonde. The older woman couldn't help but wonder how things had went and how Allie had got on with her girlfriend, if she still even held that title to the younger woman. With it getting later and there was still no sign of a call or message like Allie had mentioned, Bea picked her phone up.

Are you ok? B x

It was simple enough, she decided not to ask too many questions over the first text and only waited two minutes for a reply.

Sorry I haven't called. I'm ok. How does coffee sound tomorrow, are you free? A x

Day off tomorrow, free anytime. Why don't you come over to the house, lunchtime ok? B x

Sounds great. I'll see you then. Sleep well. A x

"Who's making you smile at your phone like that?" Debbie's sudden question brought Bea back to earth, pressing send to her latest message before she slipped her phone back into her front pocket. She wasn't even aware she had been smiling.

"Oh just Franky, you know what she's like,"