The Drama of being happy

A/N: Finally! The last installment. Sorry for the extreme delay, had no writing time for a while. Unforseen circumstances. Hope this wraps things up satisfactorily for everyone. I will be back to finish Ever Present very soon. Xx Big thanks and love to Shallotpeel my Beta. Xx

Chapter 9

Kate always woke before Caroline, it was a habit she had gotten into even before she was pregnant, in their early relationship. She enjoyed having the opportunity to peek at the sleeping woman, all her defenses down, so peaceful, natural. She enjoyed even more, watching Caroline wake up, the frown and scrunch of her face as she fought it and then the relief and often joy that appeared as she found Kate beside her.

Kate glanced at the time and almost got up to check on Flora, she didn't usually sleep this late but the monitor showed her that the child was happily dozing, she should just be grateful. Instead Kate slid back beneath the covers and snuggled in along the side of Caroline's body, wrapping an arm over her wife and stroking her fingers gently beneath Caroline's night shirt. Kate watched for signs that Caroline felt her there and smiled at the crinkle of the blonde's nose, the line creasing her brow as her eyelids opened sleepily.

Kate leant over and rubbed the end of her nose into the hollow of Caroline's neck, touching her lips to Caroline's heated throat.

Caroline moaned quietly. "Is it morning again already?"

Kate kissed the soft skin again, lingering as she did. "Yep. It's the big day." She sang sweetly.

"Oh God!" Caroline's eyes flew open, the hand that had woven its way around Kate's waist and pulled her further over Caroline's body, suddenly grew slack and Kate sank ungraciously against her wife. "For one merciful moment I'd forgotten."

Kate giggled as Caroline heaved the duvet dramatically over the pair, shutting the world out again.

Moments later, Flora woke and Kate untangled herself from the bed clothes to go and feed her, instructing Caroline to get ready. She returned to the bedroom a little later with tea and toast to find Caroline applying her make up in the mirror.

"This is ridiculous! I don't know why we can't just go together."

"Because you are the maid of honor, Gillian wants you with her for some support. She's the bride, her rules. We'll see you when you get there." Kate reminded.

Kate was secretly happy that they were going in separately, she had bought a new dress which she hadn't revealed to her wife as yet, she was going to have her hair done and the last few nights she had actually managed a level of sleep deemed almost sufficient for a human being to function. William and Roxy had volunteered to take Flora for the evening and Kate had booked a room at the hotel.

She had plans. Big plans, huge! Plans that were a long time coming. Kate knew that Caroline was nervous about today, although she wouldn't admit to it and Kate wanted to be able to distract her. She had been patient and although Kate was far from being back to herself she had been feeling stronger by the day, she could finally glimpse the blue of sky through the clouds, she knew that slowly but surely she would emerge from this mummy fog and be Kate again, a person in her own right, a wonderful wife and mother too. She felt positive.

XXx

"Kate! Psst!"

Kate turned at the sound of her name, to see a face she hadn't really been expecting.

Judith was stood off to one side of the entrance, using some kind of column to half hide behind and waving a hand frantically in Kate's direction.

Kate's brow creased sharply, what could she be doing here? Kate swapped Flora's car seat from one arm to the other as, with her dithering, the weight became a little much.

"What are you doing here?" Kate asked quietly as she took two steps closer to Judith's hiding place.

"I came with John." Judith whispered loudly with an uncertain smile.

"John? John's here?" Kate looked around as if he may suddenly appear at her shoulder at the sound of his name. "I didn't think he'd be invited."

"No. Well, he wasn't, Officially." Judith admitted in hushed tones.

Kate looked stern and expectant. One of the poses she was accustomed to taking in the classroom, leaving Judith no choice but to explain..

"Look, he called me this morning. I haven't heard from him since I saw him that time, after I got back, but I'd given him my new number, for emergencies…" Judith trailed off as another couple walked up to the building and went inside.

Kate took another step so that she was closer to Judith and placed Flora's seat gently on the ground. "And?" She prompted.

"You look fantastic!" Judith gushed suddenly as Kate stood before her without the car seat to obstruct the effect of the pretty new dress.

Kate blushed lightly a hand going automatically to her hair, the other running self consciously over the length of the dress. "Thanks." She responded. "But back to the story."

"Oh, right. So he rang me up and he's clearly been drinking and he's going on about everyone moving on… Caroline with you and Gillian getting married, he said even I was carrying on without him… I suppose he's just feeling a bit low, worthless… That place he's living in is a dive… you should see it Kate…"

Kate folded her arms across her chest and looked impatient.

"So anyway. He said he was coming to the wedding and I was worried he might cause a scene, so I said I'd come along… I thought maybe I could stop him. I don't know!" Judith whined at the last.

"I don't think you being here could really help things." Kate stated. "No offence."

Judith nodded in agreement.

"Maybe if you could convince him to leave before Gillian get's here? Where is he anyway?" Kate asked looking around again.

Judith pointed to the long window just behind them. "He's in there. Speaking to Celia."

Kate looked to the window. "Shit." She uttered. "Stay here and I'll try and coax him out." Kate said turning to go inside. "And look after Flora!" Kate said firmly looking at the peaceful and oblivious daughter sleeping happily in her seat.

Judith nodded and watched anxiously as Kate entered the building.

Kate strode confidently towards Celia, William and John wearing the sunniest smile she could muster.

"Celia, William!" She called. "It's good to see you."

William's face lit up at Kate's approach, Celia however, continued to frown at the unkempt individual who currently had her attention.

"John." Kate greeted as she was released from William's embrace. "John could I have a word?"

John seemed to struggle to focus on her for a moment before his expression turned sly. "Oh, here she is!" He said. "The wife's wife."

Kate was determined not to rise to his baiting but briefly pressed her lips together and splayed her fingers. "Could I?" She asked, moving to take his arm and about to bodily turn him away from his once, mother in law.

"Where's Flora?" Celia demanded suddenly. "I thought she was coming?"

"She's asleep." Kate informed. "She'll be joining us, don't worry." Kate assured as she pulled a stumbling John a few feet away and turned to face the door. She nudged John heavily with an elbow. "Come on." She instructed. "Outside." Almost pushing him the rest of the way.

As they emerged from the building John caught sight of Judith still hovering at her post, he noticed that she was now crouched over a car seat with Flora looking suspiciously up at her and he looked back to Kate who was still ushering him in Judith's direction.

"What is this?" John shot at Kate.

"John!" Judith called. "Where were you?"

"You know where I was." He replied

"Look John." Kate said now. "I think perhaps it's better if you leave."

"I'm a friend of the bride!" He announced. "I know her a damn sight better than you do."

"I'm sure you do. But if you weren't actually invited…" Kate tried.

"I have to speak to Gillian…" He began.

"Today isn't the best day. She's getting married …"

Kate's phone chirped loudly and she put a hand to her small bag to retrieve it. It could be Caroline, she was sure they were already a little late.

"John. Why don't we go for a coffee and a chat…" Judith suggested.

"Bloody ex alcoholics, always trying to save someone." He commented. "I'm having a drink!" He said loudly, raising his glass and waving it beneath Judith's nose.

Kate replaced her mobile, the message had said something about Gillian barricading herself in the bathroom but them finally being on the way. It sounded like she had a little time to try and get rid of John before Gillian arrived.

"John, why don't you take Judith home, I don't really think it's appropriate for the two of you to be here..." Kate said not unkindly.

John pulled his elbow out of Kate's grasp and splashed some of his drink on himself. "Appropriate!?" He spat the word. "You're one to talk!"

Kate frowned. "Come on John." She appealed.

"No! I mean it. How the two of you have the audacity!" John went on.

Kate frowned at Judith who had reddened and would not meet her friends questioning gaze.

"What does he mean?" Kate asked now.

"I didn't tell him. He already knew." Judith said quickly, raising her hands helplessly.

"What?" Kate asked.

"I know about the two of you!" John chimed in, looking very pleased with himself and pointing from one to the other.

"There is nothing to know." Kate told him definitely.

"Really? Is that right? Well I know that the two of you have been spending a lot of time together. How am I to know what you've been up to? How is Caroline for that matter? You haven't exactly told her have you Kate? I wonder why not? Maybe you don't feel it would be appropriate!"

Kate fumed. This self righteous, self absorbed prick was trying to accuse her of, what? He was such a shit stirrer. What was he even doing here?

"John, I think you've said enough. You need to leave." Kate said in her most commanding voice, trying for a moment to channel Caroline and knowing she hadn't quite pulled it off. Kate looked to Judith for support and her friend stepped forward now and took John's hand.

"Come on John, please. You don't want to cause trouble; you know you'll regret it." Judith advised.

"Get off me!" John said stumbling further back and only just managing to keep balance. "I am going inside for a drink with my son. If you don't want any trouble you both better back off!" He warned.

As he wandered back into the venue, Flora began to kick her feet and stretch herself against the restraints of the car seat; she'd had enough and sounded the warning cries.

Kate quickly bent to unfasten her and scooped the infant into her arms.

"What was all that about?" Kate shot at Judith.

"Honestly Kate, it's nothing to do with me!" Judith promised. "He hasn't been making a lot of sense but from what he told me it came from Gillian."

"Gillian? Why is Gillian talking to John about you and me?" Kate asked as she rubbed circles on her daughters back. "What the hell does Gillian know about it anyway!?"

"Apparently Celia had asked Gillian to speak to Caroline and find out why she had seen me at the house so many times." Judith explained. "Hasn't Caroline mentioned it to you?"

"No. No she hasn't." Kate said as Flora began a full on hungry cry. Kate glanced at her watch. "I'm going to have to go and feed her." She told Judith. "Bloody hell they are late." She added, at once wishing Caroline was here and counting her blessings that she hadn't yet arrived.

"Should I? What should I ? …" Judith asked awkwardly.

"Bring the bag and the seat." Kate ordered as she strode indoors to find a quiet spot to feed her daughter.

XXX

Caroline had finally coaxed Gillian out of the bathroom, she tried not to pay much attention to her ramblings. Nerves were normal and who could blame Gillian having a few extra nerves, considering the circumstances.

"That stuff with Judith?" Gillian asked casually from the back seat. "Did you ask Kate about it?"

Caroline searched Gillian's face for a clue to her intent with this line of questioning but decided to answer honestly.

"No." She revealed, turning her eyes back to the road.

"Really?" Gillian was clearly surprised.

"I didn't need to ask her. It was nothing." Caroline shrugged and jutted out her chin.

"It's good that you trust her." Gillian nodded. "That's really good. I mean, who can you really trust these days? Robbie cheated didn't he? On Cheryl, he's no angel."

Alan, who had been listening curiously to the exchange, sighed loudly beside his daughter.

"Well, Kate knows what it did to me, when John cheated. She would never." Caroline stated confidently.

She looked first to her petrol gage and then to the time on her dash. They were going to be much later than expected. How the hell had she been roped into this?

Xxx

"What the bloody hell is she doing here?" Celia asked as she stormed over to where Judith and Kate had emerged from the quiet room, just off the main room which they had sat in while Kate fed Flora, whom she now held over one shoulder, patting her back firmly.

"John brought her." Kate offered simply with a small sigh.

"What the bloody hell is John doing here?" Celia shot at Kate.

"How should I know?" Kate replied with a half shrug.

"Gillian invited him." Judith said. "Then she uninvited him… but he wanted to come."

"Well, I think he should sling his hook and you should go with him!" Celia let it be known.

"Celia is everything alright?" Gary asked as he noticed the scene.

Kate noticed the smart man who was hovering close by and wondered fleetingly who he was.

"Everything is fine." Celia replied, still eyeing Judith dangerously. "I think this woman was just about to leave."

Gary looked at each of the women and wondered what the hell he had walked into here. "Really?" He asked.

"Yes." Celia said. "Let me introduce her to you Gary, she is the hussy who stole my daughter's husband who hangs around the place trying to get her claws into Caroline's wife!." Celia said sweetly.

Gary nodded awkwardly. Yet another family drama, he wondered if this lot were ever going to run out. "Right." He said. "Well, it's good to see you Kate? Is it?" He reached a hand out for her to shake.

Kate smiled as naturally as she could and accepted the hand.

" I'm Gary, Alan's son." He introduced without a hint of any awkwardness. "Any word from Alan?" Gary asked Celia. "Only the groom seems to be getting a little twitchy."

Celia dared to take her eyes off Judith for a moment, her lips in a thin line. "They had to stop for petrol, they should be here any minute." She informed.

Kate glanced over at Robbie who was propped up at the bar, pint in hand and looking a little worse for wear. Just as a sound from outside alerted her to the fact that the heavens had opened up and it began to rain heavily. People who had been hanging around outside rushed suddenly inside and Kate saw John among them, William clearly trying to have a serious conversation with him

Xxx

They were back on the road, almost there, Caroline put her foot down. This was unbelievable. Maybe it was a sign that Gillian shouldn't get married. All the carrying on she'd been doing, was that suddenly going to stop when Robbie got a ring on her finger? It was difficult to encourage this woman to get married when Caroline disapproved so much, maybe that was why Gillian had chosen her to be here, maybe she wanted talking out of it.

Caroline had a lot of affection for Gillian, she didn't really know where it came from, because most of the time she really didn't understand her. And now she was on her way to a wedding covered in cow shit!

"It's crazy. Getting married at our age. It's daft isn't it?" Gillian posed now.

"Excuse me?" Alan asked affronted. But Gillian was waiting for Caroline's response.

"You said yourself." The farmer continued. "You only married Kate for the baby. For Flora's sake. It's ridiculous all this bloody fuss!"

Caroline turned into the car park and sharply swung into the space which had been reserved for them.

"We're here." Caroline announced. "So let's just get in and get on with it so I can have a bloody drink."

Gillian unclipped her seat belt and scowled at Caroline as Alan opened the door and scurried around the car.

XXX

Gillian wandered in out of the blue, greeted by a small round of applause, missed by those who had almost forgotten what they were waiting for. All heads did turn however as the figure of Caroline drifted into view.

Kate couldn't believe her eyes. Caroline limped past a few of the guests, her hair a damp mess and her clothes caked in a huge brown stain.

Caroline's eyes flicked from Kate's face to Judith, stood beside her, Flora's change bag over her shoulder and then back to Kate, a fleeting question in her eyes and then nothing.

"I think we might need a moment to freshen up a little." Kate heard Gillian announce suddenly and taking Caroline's hand she guided her to the bathroom.

Kate felt her stomach lurch as Caroline moved past her silently and followed Gillian to the toilets with barely a look at her.

Xxx

Gillian had just convinced herself that she was just going to go through with it. There was always divorce as Caroline had helpfully pointed out. She straightened herself and looked to Caroline.

"Gillian?" Caroline asked before they could leave the sanctuary of the public loo. "I didn't marry Kate for the sake of Flora, you know? That's what I told people…it made it easier…" Caroline shrugged self consciously. "I married her because I can't be without her… ever."

"I know that! You're sickeningly crazy about her, everyone knows that you dick head." Gillian chuckled and pulled Caroline into a hug.

Kate felt a little foolish knocking on the door of a public lavatory but she somehow felt she was intruding as she let herself inside and saw Gillian and Caroline pull away from an embrace.

Gillian looked as if she had cried fresh tears and she spoke to Kate first as she saw her come in. "Right best get this show on the road." She said as she left. "Two minutes Caroline, you're needed."

Caroline turned to the mirror and checked her hair one more time.

"I have a change of clothes for you." Kate spoke as she held out a blouse and skirt which were neatly folded.

Caroline stared at the clothes a moment then looked to Kate. "Why?"

"I booked us a room, as a surprise. William is going to have Flora for us, just down the hall. I thought we needed a little…alone time." Kate spoke hesitantly.

Caroline shrugged off her white jacket and quickly slung it into the sink. Without a word she put her hands to the zip at the back of her dress and Kate jumped into action, moving behind her to pull down the long zip. She let her hands rest on Caroline's bare shoulders for a moment and caught Caroline's eye in the mirror, before her wife moved out of the touch and out of her dress.

Caroline hurried into the replacement outfit and ran her fingers through her hair, turning to the door.

"Caroline." Kate called.

Caroline looked to her wife. "I have to go." She told her.

Xxx

Kate slipped into her seat beside William, who had Flora happily in his lap. Flora seemed happy enough, clutching William's tie and yanking at it repeatedly. She had passed, John and Judith, who were actually seated together at the back of the room, she had hoped they might have left. She needed to speak with Caroline, make things right, sooner rather than later.

As Gillian came down the aisle Kate's eyes were fixed on her wife, who looked straight ahead, before she sat down in her place on the row in front of Kate.

Kate listened to the words of the registrar and thought about their own wedding day, only months ago. She'd been so hopeful. She still was. If she could just speak to Caroline she could explain this mess and they could move on.

Suddenly she was snapped from her musings by the sound and the sight of Robbie vomiting loudly into a bucket. There were snickers and gasps from the seats around her and William shared an amused look of surprise with her.

Then it was done and everyone was shuffling into the bar area. Kate reached out for Caroline's wrist and pushed her hand into Caroline's.

"We are just going to check in." Kate told William. "Could you keep Flora for a few more minutes?"

"Of course." He dismissed as Roxy demanded her turn to hold the tot.

Xxx

This wasn't exactly how Kate had pictured this day, but she was not going to let it be ruined completely. She took the key card and took Caroline's hand again.

"Come on." She instructed.

Caroline eyed her warily but followed, one step behind, until they finally reached their room and went inside. Caroline withdrew now and sat heavily on the large bed.

"What a bloody farce." She announced.

"You had quite a time getting here." Kate said sympathetically.

"I had to practically drag her here and I still don't know if it was the right thing to do." Caroline admitted.

Kate sat beside her on the bed and Caroline dropped away as their shoulders touched, flinging herself back onto the bed and putting her hands over her face, a groan escaping her.

Kate put a hand to her wife's arm and stroked the soft pale skin.

"Do you know what really takes the biscuit!? My mother! My bloody mother! There was no question as to whether she'd be attending this wedding. She'll be out there presiding over ceremonies, quite happily. No thought to the fact that the bride has been shagging her way around Yorkshire or that the groom tried to have the bride incarcerated a few years back, or that the bastard son is footing the bill to try and win his way into his long lost Dad's affections!" Caroline laughed a hollow laugh. "She has no problem supporting any of that and why? Because Robbie has a cock and balls! Hooray! Well done! Give the man a medal!"

Kate would have laughed at the outburst if she hadn't seen through the display to Caroline's distress. Instead she held on to her wife's arm, a reminder that she was with her, until Caroline had calmed and Kate moved to pull her closer. Caroline's head fell back to the bed and she turned her face away and into the duvet. Kate moved a hand to stroke her wife's tousled hair.

"Kate, are you unhappy? Is that it? Are you sorry you came back to me? Are you sorry we got married?" Caroline asked, her words muffled, her face still almost buried, refusing to look at Kate.

Kate's mouth opened wide with shock. "Caroline! Are you kidding? The best things that have ever happened to me have been having Flora and marrying you."

Caroline breathed out in a rush and her hands dropped away, her eyes finding Kate's now. "Then what is it? What's the matter? You haven't let me near you since… you push me away and now I find out that you've been keeping things from me."

Caroline couldn't avoid the issue any longer, she needed to know, no matter what. She pushed herself up on her elbows and the sat upright.

"Judith of all people? Bloody Judith? I really am missing something here because I completely fail to see the appeal, but there has to be something, doesn't there? I mean, one spouse leaves me for her and then the other is caught sneaking around with her!"

"Caroline. It isn't like that! You know that it isn't." Kate said fiercely. "She's been helping me out. And yes, she was a bad choice, I know that! But I've been… struggling." Kate's breath shook at the admission.

"You've been struggling? It is really that hard? Being married to me? Am I that difficult to be with?" Caroline's voice had raised but Kate heard pain rather than anger.

"No! Caroline! I haven't been struggling with you… it's … it's everything else… giving up work, being at home, feeding Flora, having no sleep. I… I thought I would be the best mother in the world, I wanted it so much! But it's hard, it's exhausting and I feel like I'm not good at it." Kate admitted.

Caroline frowned and shook her head from side to side.

"I know you are only trying to be supportive and as involved as you can be and I love that, it just, sometimes it makes me feel… rubbish. You're so much better at it all than I am, you go to work, you run a school and you still manage to come home, have time with Flora, the boys and then do it all again the next day. I … I've been trying to live up to that but… sometimes I feel like I can't …" Kate was focusing her eyes on where her fingers had wrapped firmly around Caroline's.

Caroline's face had softened a little as Kate spoke but the frown held in place.

"I still don't understand…" She sniffed. "Where Judith comes into all this, why she's here, with you?"

Kate raised her eyes to pained blue ones. "No, Caroline, she is not with me! John brought her here today, he came to see Gillian." Kate explained.

"John? He's here?... Of course he is! Idiot!" Caroline slapped a hand at her forehead and Kate wondered if she was referring to herself or the man in question. "He proposed to Gillian you know? She told me on the way here, he's been sniffing around her again…"

"I have seen Judith a few times" Kate admitted quickly, not wanting to get into John and Gillian. " I know that you've heard and I'm sorry I didn't tell you myself. She just turned up when I was feeling low and she offered to help and she made me feel…" Kate searched for the word, for an explanation. "She is such a wreck. She made me feel like it was okay, like I didn't have to be perfect."

Caroline looked grim and sighed.

"She was just being a friend, but I won't see her again, if it makes you uncomfortable, I won't. I don't want to! I've been feeling better and Flora seems happier with me. Please! Caroline, everything's going to be alright. It is." Kate assured and pleaded at the same time.

"But, see… I thought it was! I just don't get people. I thought we got married and it would be you and me against the world. I thought all the pretending was over. I don't want to be like bloody Gillian, all the lies and the messing about." Caroline had risen from the bed and stood before Kate and swung an arm out to emphasise her point

.

"It isn't. It won't be!" Kate promised. "I'm sorry. I didn't want you to feel like we were a problem, a burden, Flora and I. It's stupid, I know. Blame it on hormones or something but please, let me make it up to you." Kate begged, also rising from the bed and moving to take Caroline's waist in her hands.

Caroline's sigh sounded tired and she desperately searched Kate's face with her eyes. "You'll talk to me in future? You won't hide anything?" She tried.

"I swear." Kate nodded eagerly, sliding her arms around Caroline now, sensing the willingness to forgive, she let her head rest on her wife's shoulder, her lips close to her ear. "I'm sorry." She whispered.

"Me too." Caroline said quietly. "For being too stupid to see how hard things have been for you. I was just so… happy, so pleased with Flora and you that I didn't really see…"

Kate was surprised. She had been ready to accept all the blame but to hear Caroline take her share was a relief.

Kate coyly moved her head to capture her wife's lips and Caroline kissed her back, her eyes closing and the rest of the tension in her frame leaving their embrace.

"Now, can we go out and enjoy ourselves? Have a couple of drinks, maybe a dance?" Kate asked, stealing another quick kiss.

Caroline nodded. "You do look stunning." She remarked. "It would be a shame not to show you off." The blonde smiled a little now.

Kate grinned seductively and pulled Caroline to the door by their clasped hands.

As the couple rejoined the wedding, each looked for their daughter and found her sitting in Celia's lap, William could be found queuing at the bar. As Caroline approached she could hear her mother singing an old nursery rhyme to Flora, she vaguely recognised it but it wasn't one of the many in her more recent repertoire. Caroline felt Kate tug at her arm before they could get close enough to disturb the scene.

Caroline halted and raised an eyebrow.

"You know." Kate said, only just loud enough for Caroline to hear. "With my mum so far away, it's such a shame that Flora hasn't got a Grandmother around. It's your choice of course but, no one would think any less of you if you decided to reconsider. You must miss your mum?" Kate reasoned, hoping that this wasn't enough to shake their still fragile reconciliation.

Caroline was quiet, considering Kate's words and then the face of her daughter, who seemed to be giving Celia a suspicious look whilst unable not to chuckle at the knee bounces and the sounds of the song.

Kate pulled Caroline close for just a second and kissed her on the nose. "I'll go and ask William to get us drinks." She informed.

Celia finally noticed Caroline and fell silent, holding Flora a little more closely as if her mother may snatch her away.

"We were just saying hello." Celia said coolly.

Caroline took the seat beside her mother and took a breath before she spoke.

"Alright." Caroline responded, clasping her hands together on her knee and saying nothing else for a few moments.

"Look mother," She finally said. "I hadn't really planned to speak to you today and I'm still upset." Caroline felt Celia's shoulders tense, her body readying for battle.

"That being said…" Caroline jumped ahead. "I haven't got the energy to be angry with you anymore". Caroline had raised a hand to prevent her mother from speaking.

"It would be nice for you to get to know Flora and we can see where things go from there." She said calmly, her hands clasped around one knee.

Celia looked for a moment as if she was chewing a wasp, as the saying goes, but Flora wriggled in her arms and demanded the woman's attention again. "I would like to spend some time with her, she's a lovely little thing." Celia allowed.

Caroline nodded to herself. "And… I wanted to thank you, for the blanket… it was… very thoughtful." Caroline stopped there and looked to the bar hoping to catch sight of her wife and son bringing drinks.

Celia smiled a small smile. "Well, it's only right." She said. "She's family. She should have it."

Caroline managed a smile, but twisted her hands in her lap nervously, Celia reached out and put a hand over Caroline's, the move surprising her daughter.

"I have missed you Caroline." Celia said in her softest voice. "I hate all this…"

Caroline lightly squeezed the more frail hand in hers, just as the wished for Kate and William appeared at the table with a tray full of drinks. Celia quickly withdrew her hand from her daughter and went back to fussing over Flora.

"Aww, I love weddings!" Kate announced as she took a chair beside Caroline.

Xxx

The bride and groom had departed but the party went on. Flora was sleeping soundly, having been taken upstairs for a final feed and was now in Roxy's arms about to be taken up to bed.

John had been asked to leave by the best man not long after Caroline had spotted him and given him an intense look of disdain, he never did get his chance to speak to Gillian.

Caroline had noticed however, that Judith had not left with him and she now seemed to be in deep conversation with a captivated looking Gary, while his wife shot them daggers from her place across the room and looked ready to leave herself.

Judith's continued presence had preoccupied her a little, earlier on, but as she realised that no matter how many times she checked, Kate only had eyes for her, she began to relax and enjoy those eyes, that smile.

Caroline had spoken with her mother and felt better for it. She hadn't lingered for long in Celia's company, things weren't back to normal yet and she didn't want them to be. Caroline wanted her Mum to have to work at their relationship, to build up trust again, in time, not for things to go right back to the way they were.

Caroline was not one for dancing at this kind of gathering, at least not until she met Kate. John would dance with all manner of distant relatives, friends, and total strangers when they were out together, he knew better than to ask Caroline to take to the floor. Yet here she was, her arms wrapped around the woman she loved, pressed close, their hips swaying to the Al Green song that had brought other couples to the dance floor and she really couldn't be happier.

Kate hummed along, singing some of the lines.

"Kate?" Caroline asked suddenly. "You're a wonderful mother y'know? Flora is happy and she's lucky to have you because whatever happens you'll always support her, she can be whoever she wants to be and you'll love her for it, no matter what."

Kate considered the words with a smile. "Well, within reason…" She joked.

Caroline nodded. "She may need some guidance…" She agreed.

The couple swayed in a peaceful contentment for a moment.

"we oughta stay together…" Kate murmured as she took Caroline's hand and moved to spin her wife under her arm in a twirl that Caroline couldn't really escape.

Caroline moved closer to prevent a repeat of the twisting about. "Let's stay together." Caroline quietly joined the voice of her wife now and Kate grinned happily.

"Forever?" Kate asked, taking a break from the song to question her wife playfully.

"Forever's a mighty long time." Caroline replied smugly.

Kate grinned at the memory, stole a kiss and led them out of the room.

Xxx

The End x