AN: This is a short chapter, but I like that it's short because it's basically Ronnie and Lauren's first real encounter. Anyway, enjoy it :)

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A week after the meeting with Glenda, Alex and Lauren, Ronnie was feeling tired and irritable. She had spent most of the week working hard at the club, and trying her best to ignore Jack. He hadn't tried anything with her since last week, but Ronnie was still waiting for another of his advances. At this point she probably would have welcomed it; she was so tired she could have fallen asleep and just slept for days without waking up. And of course there was Danielle; Ronnie had been looking after her nonstop for the past couple of days. Danielle had come down with another fever a few days after the meeting in the Vic.

Now she sat at the kitchen table in her flat, sipping the cup of tea she'd just made for herself. Danielle wasn't up yet, it was noon already but Ronnie had decided to let her sleep. She'd been flattered when Danielle had offered to come and help out at the club, despite having such a high temperature that Ronnie herself was amazed that Danielle could even bear to speak at all. She had already told her daughter three times that she was fine and didn't need any help. Danielle had seemed indignant about this, which had made Ronnie laugh. That girl really did have a heart of pure gold.

As for Glenda, she and the kids had been staying at the B&B a few minutes away from the square, but they visited every single day, much to Ronnie's chagrin. She was still uncomfortable with the situation and didn't wish to see them everyday. Roxy however had gotten used to it right away; she had already bonded with Lauren, who couldn't be happier having a 'cool' older sister. She regarded Ronnie, however, as a stranger who sometimes happened to be around. Alex didn't really talk to anyone, he just sat downstairs, away from all the chatter. Glenda usually spent hours in conversation with Ronnie, and even Peggy had begun to show her face and now she too was beginning to warm to Glenda and the kids. And as for Danielle, well, she and Lauren were just about inseperable now.

Ronnie seemed to be the only one out of the loop. She always felt a pang of jealousy though, whenever she saw Danielle and Lauren together. Ronnie still felt like she needed to be close to Danielle all the time, and now it felt like Danielle wanted to be around Glenda and Lauren more than be around her. Those two were practically joined to the hip now. It was strange, Lauren being Danielle's Auntie despite being three years younger than her. Still, Ronnie tried to be happy for her daughter. It was good to see her with a smile on her face.

There was a knock on the door. Ronnie rose slowly, stretched and then went to get it. Upon opening the door she found Lauren standing before her. For a sixteen year old, the girl was quite short; she couldn't have been more than 5"4. Still, despite their height difference, Ronnie could see herself in this girl, this stranger she barely knew. Apart from the hair, they looked extremely similar.

"Oh," Lauren spoke in her strong Australian accent, "I came to see Danielle. She here?"

"She's asleep," Ronnie said, giving the girl a withering look, "Still running a fever, you know."

"Oh," Lauren squeaked. Wow, this girl was very repetitive. "Well.. could I.. could I come in?"

Ronnie folded her arms. "She won't be up for a while yet."

Lauren swallowed hard, "I.. I sort of wanted to talk to you, though."

Ronnie frowned and stared the girl down, then shrugged and let her in. Lauren shuffled through and sat down heavily on the sofa. Ronnie leaned against the wall, careful not to get too close. Then she cursed herself silently. This girl wasn't carrying a disease, so why would she not allow herself to get close to her? What was wrong with her these days?

"You don't like me," Lauren said in almost a whisper, breaking the ice.

Ronnie felt like laughing. Instead she stared at Lauren, bewildered.

"I.. of course I like you, Lauren," she said quietly, though she could see why the girl would think that. She'd been very cold towards her, towards her own sister. What was she doing? Trying to deny that she and Lauren were related? This girl was her little sister. She couldn't deny that fact anymore.

"You never want to be around me," Lauren continued in a shaky voice, "or Mum, or Alex. You always keep to yourself."

"I've been through a lot," Ronnie said, turning to go and get a glass of water. "It's hard for me to deal with."

"I always knew I had sisters." Lauren said after a short amount of time, "Mum talked about you all the time. She still does." She looked up at Ronnie and smiled, as if to see her reaction. "Back in Australia, Mum was always thinking about taking us to see you. But she was always too scared. Then, when Dad.." Lauren's face screwed up into a look of pain, "Well, then she decided we should meet you. I was really excited, I mean.. having a brother was never much fun. I always wanted a sister, an older sister who I could look up to. And now I have two. I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true. I mean.."

She looked at Ronnie meaningfully, "I know she hurt you. But she's changed. She's amazing, really she is. She never forgot you, if that's what you were worried about."

Ronnie didn't want to have this conversation, especially with Lauren. "Look, I know you think I've got something against you, but I haven't. I've just been through hell recently, and I just got my daughter back, and I'm trying to give her all of my attention. I mean, you've got to understand. I lived without her for half of my life, and now I've got her back. So if you think I'm ignoring you, I'm not. You're.. well, you're my sister, aren't you?"

"I suppose you are," Lauren mumbled, "I know you don't want to be. I just wanted to know that you had accepted it, and that we, well.. that we didn't have a problem, or anything."

Ronnie walked over and sat down next to Lauren. "We haven't got a problem," she said truthfully, looking at the innocent teenager at her side, "and someday, we will have a proper relationship. But for now you just have to give me time, you all do. Anyway.." she uttered a small laugh, "I don't see why you would want me as a sister to look up to. Roxy is better at that stuff than I am. Trust me, she's the sister to go to when you need advice."

Lauren shrugged, "Roxy's fun, but you seem more serious. Sometimes serious is better than fun."

Ronnie chuckled, and for a moment she stared at Lauren and it was like looking in the mirror. She saw nothing but herself in the girl.

"So um," Ronnie went on, not feeling too awkward anymore, "What are you going to do for school? Well, I suppose you'll be starting college soon.."

Lauren smiled, "I was already in college back in Australia. I'm just going to wait until September to start again, it's easier."

"What are you going to do until then?" Ronnie questioned her, suddenly interested.

"I supoose I'll get a job or something, earn a bit of cash," Lauren said with a grin, "Then I'll start sorting it out in a couple of months."

Ronnie couldn't help but grin back. Lauren reminded her so much of herself when she was young. So laidback, yet she seemed very intelligent. Ronnie had a sure feeling she would really make something of her life someday.

Lauren started to get up, and Ronnie felt slightly disappointed. She was happy to have had this talk with Lauren though.

My sister, she thought, smiling again. She too got up and walked Lauren to the door. Lauren turned back to her.

"Will you give me a ring later and tell me how she's getting on?" she asked, suddenly looking shy again.

Ronnie nodded, "I will do. Infact, I'll get her to ring you. She'll be up in a couple of hours, most likely. If she's well later, I'll bring her over to the Vic for a drink, yeah?"

Lauren laughed, "Wish I was old enough to drink."

"Maybe in my club, you are," Ronnie said with a wink. She then regretted her words slightly, not wanting to lead the girl astray.

"I'll see you later, Ronnie," Lauren said, and then she was gone.

Ronnie closed the door behind her, and went back to her tea. Then, just when she'd decided to make some breakfast for herself, Danielle shuffled in from the bedroom.

"Hi, Mum," she said, stiffling a yawn, "What are we having?" she asked, nodding at the pan in Ronnie's hand and grinning.

"Just bacon or something," Ronnie said with a smile, "Or maybe you'd better cook, since I'm apparently terrible at it."