Chapter Ten

Two figures held each other closely, huddled under a huge umbrella as they slowly made their way across the train platform. The man, tall and dark, held a protective arm around the shoulders of the smaller blonde woman as their eyes narrowed against the storm. They reached the door of the train and the man held his umbrella over the entrance. His partner turned, and looked at him for a long minute before giving him a chaste kiss and embarking the train.

Where had all of the sun from yesterday gone? Ally thought to herself. As she stared out of the train window through the torrential rain she felt that it was probably appropriate. It was likely that she wouldn't be seeing him again for another month. Straightening up, she scathingly told herself to pull herself together. She'd managed without him for four months; another one was hardly going to kill her. The train began to pull away and he raised his hand in farewell. Turning her head to see him once more, Ally then leant back in her seat and sighed.

Carl stood and looked at the spot where the train had been for another minute, before another one pulled in to take its place and he finally turned to leave the station. He sighed as he climbed into his car and threw the sodden umbrella into the back seat. It had been the most surreal weekend of his life... and his was saddened that she'd been brought back to him and then taken away again. His dream had at last come true... that morning he'd awoken to see her beautiful brown eyes locked onto his, and his heart had melted. But now she was on that train back to Lancashire... and so would he be, in a month's time, by invitation. He grinned to himself all the way home as it finally sunk in that he, Carl Rundle, was with Ally. He couldn't comprehend how Frazer had let such a woman go, but he'd given him this golden opportunity and he was going to hold onto it for dear life.

As he arrived home and parked outside his house he was confronted by Mrs Thatcher, but even that was not enough to dampen his spirits, so he smiled cheerfully at her despite the fact that he was rapidly becoming soaked.

'Hello, Carl. No sign of your... friend, today?' Mrs Thatcher was an astute woman, and if those two were just friends she'd eat her best teapot.

'No, she's on her way back to Lancashire.'

'And will we be seeing her again?'

'Hopefully, yes.'

With that, he turned and headed inside, closing the door and throwing himself triumphantly onto the sofa.

xxx

The rain eased off as the train wound its way steadily across England. By the time it was pulling into Roker Bridge, darkness had fallen but the sky had cleared, and a bright moon was shining down through the glass window of the station. On the platform Spock looked anxiously up and down, waiting for Ally to emerge from one of the carriages. He supposed that it must have gone well to a degree, as she'd delayed her trip back, hence why he was here so late to pick her up.

After what seemed like an age, a door at the far end opened and she stepped out. He was astonished to see such a change in his sister after just a few days. As she headed towards him dragging her case behind her, he noticed the bounce in her walk, the long forgotten twinkle in her eyes and the familiar wide smile. Upon arriving she threw her arms around him, and in a hearty tone said 'Alright, Spock?'

'I take it things went well, then?'

She pulled back and nodded, then clapped a playful hand on his shoulder as they walked towards the exit, briefing him on the events of the weekend.

The rest of the gang also noticed the new Ally the next day. After a day spent chattering to Diesel and singing out of tune from under various cars, she bounded into the pub after work and insisted on buying the first round. Hodge offered to help her carry them and as they made their way to the bar he muttered to her.

'Told y' it'd work out.'

She smiled gratefully at him.

'I know. Thanks Hodge, I owe you one.'

When they arrived back at the table, Diesel spoke up.

'So, what's got into you today? Y've cheered up no end.'

'I'm blooming,' Ally pronounced, as Dawn, Spock and Hodge exchanged amused grins. Lloydy merely looked confused.

'Are you pissed? Thought y' weren't meant to be drinkin', like.'

'Drunk on love, Lloydy, my man,' Hodge said as he patted Ally on the back. And those in the know realised that it was true. Today she was exuding sheer happiness – something that they hadn't seen from her in over a year now. Things clearly hadn't been quite right with Frazer for a while. Diesel leaned forward.

'Oh?' He was eager to know who it was that'd won the heart of his best girl mate. Dawn picked up the story.

'Someone's just spent a few days in the company of a certain Lieutenant Rundle.'

Hodge and Lloydy wolf whistled simultaneously whilst Eric looked merely confused, and Diesel concerned.

'That's great and all Ally, but how does he feel about… you know, you 'aving someone else's baby?'

Ally blushed. Her mates weren't all that clued up about the whole procreation process, but it didn't take a genius to realise that her baby had been conceived pretty damn soon after she'd left Frazer. As in, about twelve hours afterwards.

'It's not someone else's baby, actually.'

The entire table fell silent, in a similar way to the time at Lloydy's housewarming. Only this time, Ally herself had dropped the proverbial bombshell. Simon squeezed her hand.

'Is he coming back up here then?'

'Yeah, next month. He's gonna visit when he can, and he's moving back in April.'

'Cool.'

The chatter restarted and Ally sighed in relief that the spotlight was off her – for now. The gang were all being ultra considerate to her, but it'd never be the same anymore really. She had a baby now. She couldn't just nip down the pub with the rest of the when she felt like it. She was trying to act like normal for as long as she could, but things kept changing and drawing yet more attention to her. Everything was changing, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.