I don't own OG characters, I thank Tony Grounds for creating them.

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Again this is dark...as you will read, but I will try to not make it too distressful to read.

Your ref: This story began 3 months after the very end of Molly's choice...

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Continues directly from last chapter...

Molly couldn't deal with all this at this minute...Christmas was just around the corner and all she wanted more than anything in the entire world was her baby to come back to her.

And with everyday that passed by...her strength was being sapped.

"Molly..."

She turned her head at Charles's call. She pulled herself together and went into the lounge, Charles was stood at the door.

Two police officers and DC Sara Fox were also standing there...

Molly felt her heart starting to quicken in her chest. What could this mean?

"Molly...we have some news", began Sara. Molly was all ears, Charles could tell that she was trying to act all brave "go on...what is it"

"A hour ago, Police in Manchester received a report from a couple that a woman, who before didn't have kids and lived alone... has now mysteriously gained a daughter"

Charles didn't want to pour water over the fire that was starting to shine in Molly's eyes, he was just being practical, "...could it be a relative's child that she has been warded to look after?"

Sara nodded, "No...apparently, this woman didn't seem to have any family...I'll appreciate it's all rather sketchy at the moment, but I know you wanted to be kept informed at all times and not kept in the dark, I've just stopped by to let you know...we will know more tomorrow when detectives from here will go up there to help investigate with the lead"

When the officers had gone, Molly looked at Charles, "It might be her..."

Charles could see the hope rising within her. He was alittle skeptical but kept his mouth well and truely buttoned up.

Molly suddenly went in tidy mode, "Well...she'll want to come to a nice and clean house wont she...I better push the hoover round or somemink"

Charles nodded, "I've got to go and catch that train...I'll text you when I get there..."

Molly was shaking her head as she was grabbing hold of the hoover from the cupboard, "Molly...I meant what I told you earlier...I am going to end it with Julie when I get back"

Molly didn't look at him, she was in a world of her own unravelling the cord of the hoover, shrugging it off, Charles went to collect up his stuff.

XXX

Dad was home from watching West Ham playing. He was sitting in the lounge when Molly and Nan came in through the front door.

"Dad! You'll never guess, but they've found her...they've found her"

Dave turned from the sports programme and frowned, "Esther? They've found her...where?"

Nan was standing behind Molly, but she was looking at him as to say just go along with it.

"The police came round and said that they've found her in Manchester...she was all the way up there, no wonder nobody could bloody find her!"

Dave looked at Nan, then back at Molly, "But that's great news! How great is news like that!"

Molly was over the moon, "I'm gonna tell the others that they better get their finking caps on about giving her prezzies for Christmas, a?" she then went up the stairs with a big smile plastered all over her face.

Nan watched up go, then jumped on Dave, "She's lost it Dave...Apparently the old bill were over her place earlier and said that they had some kind of lead in Manchester..."

Dave didn't know what was so wrong in that, "So?...it MIGHT be the lead we've been waiting for...she's just gotta alot of faith like her Mum used to have in stuff..."

"Yeah well...I cant help but think she's bigging it up to something it's not..."

She stopped when Molly was coming down the stairs, "right...come on then...whos for fish'n'chips or sommink...nan?"

Nan nervously smiled, and glanced at Dave...

XXX

In Bath, Charles stuck the key in the lock and went inside, he dropped his holdal onto the mat. He could hear voices in the lounge, he intook a deep breath and went in.

The Christmas tree was up. Effie was laughing in delight as Julie came down from the step ladder after placing the angel on the top of the tree.

"Just like you Effie...my little angel!"

She then looked up to see Charles in the doorway, "Oh...you remembered that I'm still alive then?"

"Sorry...I should have called you back, but there has been so much to take in and get involved with..."

Julie, biting her tongue was clearing up the decoration boxes that were scattered about the living room carpet, "I bet there was", she muttered.

He removed his donkey jacket and slung it over the couch, Julie tutted and grabbed it, "I've told you about not just leaving your coat in here before, don't you ever listen?"

He stood there in his black sweater and jeans scratching his head, he had rehearsed how he was going to break up with her on the train back, but he couldn't get the words out. Effie's presence in the room didn't help matters.

"Well...", Julie asked as she floated back into the room, "...how is dear Molly? I gather that there isn't any news?"

He shook his head.

"It's terrible isn't it? This all so dreadful and sad...she has be climbing the walls bless her heart...I gather the Crimewatch thingie went okay?"

Charles's mouth was open and closing like a fish because he couldn't get a word in edgeways.

"Anyway...what do you think?"

Charles looked at her puzzled as he stuck his hands into his jeans pockets.

"the tree silly?"

He looked at it and shrugged, "It's a tree...it's christmas..."

Julie went and altered around some decorations on it, "I do not know how we are going to fit all of little Effie's (mouthing presents) underneath the tree"

Effie looked up.

Charles sucked in his teeth and looked at the clock above the fireplace, "Isn't it time for Effie to be in bed by now? It's way passed 9..."

Julie frowned at him, but she picked Effie up and kissed her and she brought her over to Charles who gave the girl an awkward kiss and she went and put the girl to bed.

He blow out a breath and went to the drinks cabinet, god it was tempting , but he was resisting it.

He only had to wait 10 minutes before Julie was back in the room, "So come on then...I can feel there's something you want to say"

He nodded, "There is"

"then I suggest you spit it out"

"It's...it's about us...well...I mean..."

"For jesus sake Charles just spit it out"

Charles shook his head and decided to forget about the tactful approach he was trying to muster up, "we have come to the end of the road...there is no where for us to go anymore, so I am going to go up those stairs and pack my things..."

Julie pulled a WTF face and blurted, "what have I done?"

Charles shook his head as he went to the stairs, "You have done nothing...what's happened to Esther has just put a reality check on me that's all...I've done an assessment on the situation and I am going forth and do what is right"

She was following him up the stairs, "Oh cut your pompus military jargon and be serious for a moment because I'm not letting you do this"

Charles started to throw his stuff into a case, "I shall go back to my parents place for a while and take stock before I decide what I am going to do next"

Julie shook her head, her hands were on her hips, "it's Christmas you bastard! What about my little Effie? Are you going to ruin her Christmas too...are you?"

Charles looked up at her and knotted his browe, "how dare you make me feel bad...playing dirty and shovelling quilt on me is not going to make me change my mind...I am not taking these actions lightly you know...I have been thinking about this for a while"

Julie laughed dryily, "Oh have you...ha...I know what all this is about...it's because of HER...that skanky chavvy bitch Molly...it is, isn't it?"

Charles was surprised by her tone and words, "I cannot believe you actually said that. How dare you. She is the Mother of my child and..."

"What child? I thought she was still missing? And you know what's going to happen don't you...the child is going to be found dead in some ditch somewhere and she'll want somebody to blame...try blaming herself"

Charles zipped up the case and shook his head in disbelief, "You heartless evil bitch...how can you sat that? You a mother yourself for Godsake...what happened to all Mothers together and I know how she feels and all of that..."

Julie burst into tears, "I didn't mean to say any of that...it's just the anger and emotion coming out because I don't want you to go...not like this"

Charles relented his anger, but he was still on track, "look...I know deep down you are not heartless...you are not rotten to the core...you actually did a good thing and helped me get better and made my life worth living again and I thank you for that...but now I have to think of where I want to be and what I want to do...believe me Julie, I'm not just doing this for myself...I'm thinking about you too...it's not fair for you if I stay and pretend to be happy"

And with that said, he picked up the case and walked out of the bedroom and went down the stairs.

She ran out into the hall and leaned over the bannister, "don't you think you can come back...when you see that you have made a mistake, I won't give you another chance...you get one chance with me..just ONE!"

Charles stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked up at her, "then I know I need not come back then...take good care of yourself Julie"

And as she closed her eyes and the tears of hurt streamed down her cheeks, the front door close behind him.

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A/N Julie exit? Lets hope so.

The next chapter focuses on Charles trying to build bridges with Molly, but is it all just too late? Is Molly ready to forget the past? Will the latest lead in Manchester just be another false hope? MORE SOON!