A/N: Thank you again for reviews, they make my day! Hope you enjoy this chapter, but please note I'm ill and high on Beechams right now, so I hope the chapter is coherent xD Let me know what you think and keep an eye out for the next chapter, as the drama is going up a notch!

The Unexpected Acquaintance

Chapter Thirteen

Redemption

Fraser was already at the Roscoe's the next morning by the time Robbie dragged himself downstairs. He was sat at the kitchen table with Jason, reading the paper, as Sandy clattered about making breakfast and cups of coffee.

He yanked out the chair beside his twin and sat down, snatching away the carton of juice. Jason scowled. 'I was about to drink that!'

'Well, you weren't fast enough, were you?' Robbie smirked, yanking off the cap and taking a gulp. Sandy sighed, glancing at him.

'Not today, Robbie, please.'

'Jase is just touchy, Mum,' he shrugged. 'He gets to see his new girlfriend today.' Robbie grinned across at Jason, who had suddenly flushed a deep shade of red.

'A girlfriend?' Sandy looked over her shoulder. 'I didn't hear anything about that.'

'She's not my girlfriend!' Jason scowled, giving Robbie a shove as he left the table. He dumped his cereal bowl in the sink.

'Yeah, right, you two get any closer and you'll be joined at the hip.'

'Oh, shut up.' Jason moved away, searching the fridge for his insulin. Sandy began to fill the sink.

'Hurry up, you two, or you'll be late,' she said firmly, checking the clock on the wall. Robbie shoved the juice aside, grabbing a slice of dry toast and slinging his bag on his shoulder.

Jason was close behind him. Fraser cleared his throat, setting the paper aside and standing up. 'Wait a minute, boys.' He pulled out his wallet, sliding free two fivers. 'Grab yourself something nice for lunch.'

Jason took his with a grin. 'Thanks!' He pecked Sandy on the cheek and left the kitchen.

'Remember, boxing after school!' she yelled after him, checking to make sure he had his kit.

Fraser held the second note to Robbie, but Robbie curled his lip, looking him up and down.

'I don't need anything from you.' He shoved past, following Jason.

'Robbie!' Sandy called, but his only answer was the slam of the front door. Fraser sighed and put the fiver away. 'I'm sorry about him, he... he struggles to adjust...'

'Don't worry about it,' Fraser smiled, moving around the table. 'He'll get used to the idea that I'm here to stay.'

Sandy wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him close for a kiss. 'He'll come around, I promise.'

Fraser kissed her neck, leaning around her to turn off the tap before it overflowed. 'Now, we have got the house to ourselves...' He grinned, and Sandy laughed, playing with the collar of his shirt.

'I think Ziggy and Ruby are still in bed, but we can be quiet.' He backed her up to the table, fingers playing around the hem of her jumper.

Fraser chuckled, grinning against her mouth. 'Well, I can...'

Ruby was drying her hair from the shower when Ziggy came in, leaning in the doorway and watching her with a smile. She turned off the hair-dryer, checking the bounce of her curls in the mirror. 'I've got some good news, babe,' Ziggy told her, coming forward to kiss her cheek.

Ruby turned, snuggling into him. 'What's that?'

'Our wedding day is officially booked,' he grinned. 'April 30th, 12pm, just what you wanted.'

Ruby grinned, kissing him, fingers trailing around the back of his neck. 'I have some news of my own. Esther's decided the hen party should be in January and she takes the role of Maid-of-Honour very seriously.'

Ziggy grinned, cupping her face. 'Joe hasn't said anything about a stag do, yet. I'll speak to him.'

'As long as it's not the day before the wedding, I don't care,' she laughed. Ziggy's grin widened.

'You afraid I'll show up drunk or hung-over?'

'If you turn up at all,' she teased, brown eyes glittering. 'You might be tied up to a lamp post or something.'

'Don't jinx me,' he laughed, straightening up as she stood.

'Anyway, Frankie's planning a big Halloween party at the end of the month, and she wants me to go through the decorations with Esther and see what we need.' She searched the room for her handbag.

'I'll catch you at lunch, yeah?' She nodded, following him out the bedroom and down the stairs. Sandy and Fraser were sat in the living room with cups of tea, watching the news.

'See you later,' Ruby called, making her way to the door. Ziggy caught her wrist and pulled her back.

'Forgetting something, Mrs Roscoe-to-be?'

She beamed, allowing him to pull her close and kiss her. Eventually, he let her go, watching the sway of her hips as she left.

He moved through to the living room, snatching the newspaper from the coffee table. He sat in the armchair, flicking to the housing section. Sandy noticed this immediately. 'Moving out?'

'Just having a look.'

'Good, because I'm planning on using your bedroom for my hot tub.'

Ziggy looked up, rising his eyebrows. 'I see how it is, Mum. You couldn't get a hot tub while we live here, could ya?'

'No, because I'd never get a chance to use it, that's why,' she laughed. 'No, I'm proud of you, Ziggy. You're moving up in the world and finally moving out.'

Ziggy grinned, going back to the paper. 'Yeah, well, we'll need somewhere to live by the time we're married. It'd be nice to have our own place.'

Sandy checked her watch. 'Don't you have work?'

He sighed, nodding. 'Guess I'll have to open up. Seems like I'm the only one working these days.'

Sandy frowned. 'Where's Joe?'

Ziggy rubbed his jaw, looking up. 'He and Gabby broke up. He ain't been in work.' He decided it would be best to leave his kiss with Lindsey out of the equation.

She sighed, shaking her head. 'I thought she would be good for him, you know? Give him something to focus on.'

'Yeah, well, I'll see what I can do.' He shut the newspaper and set it on the arm, standing up. 'See you two later.' He moved into the hallway, grabbing his jacket and with a sigh, headed to work.

The lesson before lunch was Geography. Emmy walked in and took a seat at the back, the chair next to her empty. Mr Vane began calling names in a drawling, monotone voice, which seemed to instantly put the rest of the class to sleep. She slid her notepad free from her bag, slipping it beneath her Geography book.

She started to sketch, voices fading into the background, until the sound of a door slamming caught her attention. 'Late again, Mr Roscoe. You really need to get a watch,' Mr Vane sighed. 'Take a seat.'

Emmy watched as Robbie weaved his way towards her, a grin spreading when he spotted her. She inwardly groaned, shoving her notepad out of sight.

'You're at my table.' He dumped his bag beside her.

'My mistake. There's no other seat.'

'Guess it's my lucky day, then,' he smirked, throwing himself into the chair beside her. Mr Vane called for silence and Emmy focused her gaze on the board.

Robbie obviously wasn't interested in working at all. He tapped his pen against the desk, over and over, until she flashed him a glare. 'Do you mind? Some of us are trying to work.'

He grinned, sitting back in the chair. 'Am I bugging you?'

'Yes.' She went back to her work, writing down notes. He leaned close. 'I can see why Jason likes you. A goodie-goodie, just like him.'

'At least he wants a decent future for himself. Unlike you.'

'I want a decent future,' he shrugged, tilting his head as he studied her. 'You don't know me.'

'I know that you're an annoying little boy who can't even concentrate on his own work for five minutes,' Emmy muttered, blowing her fringe out her eyes. She really wasn't in the mood for this.

Robbie hooked his fingers beneath the seat of her chair, dragging her closer until their knees wedged together. She resisted the urge to scoot away, doing her best to look bored. 'You know, you shouldn't pass judgement. It's an unattractive quality.'

Emmy raised an eyebrow. 'What do you know about unattractive qualities?'

Robbie laughed quietly. He was close now, inches from her. She stared at him, trying not to look bothered. 'And I thought I had an attitude problem,' he muttered, that smirk playing around his lips again. His brown eyes never seemed to look anywhere, but at her.

'You have something.' She edged her chair back again, staring ahead and trying to understand what Mr Vane was saying.

Robbie leaned back against his seat, though she could see him looking at her from the edge of her vision. Suddenly, he reached out and snatched her notepad from beneath her work. Emmy spun to face him, eyes flashing as she tried to grab it back. But, Robbie held it out of reach.

'What's this, then?'

'Give it back!' Emmy hissed, trying not to grab Mr Vane's attention. Her eyes narrowed, as he began to flick through it.

Robbie's grin quickly faded, until he was frowning, staring at the sketches. 'What is this?'

Tears stung her eyes as she leapt up, chair clattering back. She ripped it from his hands, shoving it into her bag. 'Keep your nose out of my things,' she spat.

'Miss Royle, please sit down,' Mr Vane called, irritation on his face as he looked at the pair. 'Mr Roscoe, if you're going to disturb the other students, you can take yourself to Mr Blake's office.'

'No, thanks, Sir,' Robbie replied, his eyes not leaving Emmy's face. 'I've got something interesting here.'

'As long as it's your work, I don't care.' Mr Vane cleared his throat and continued to write notes about fossils on the board. Emmy pulled her seat up and sat down, cheeks flaming, eyes on her work. Robbie wasn't grinning now, he wasn't even smirking.

He edged his seat closer. 'Why are you drawing things like that?'

'Mind your own business,' she snapped.

'You're one of those mental ones, aren't you?'

Emmy could feel it rising in her, the panic, in waves, growing until she could barely control it. She clenched her pen tight, trying her best to ignore him. Robbie leaned closer, until she could smell the faint aroma of cigarettes and deodorant. 'Who are you?'

Emmy shoved him away, chest tight and throat constricted. She needed air; she had to get out of here, had to get away from him. She grabbed her bag, swinging it over her shoulder and ignoring Mr Vane's calls.

She slammed out the door and raced down the corridor. She could barely see for tears as she scrabbled at the padlock on her locker. Her hands were shaking as she yanked it open, grabbing the bottle of pills.

She shook one out and swallowed it.

'Emmy?'

She spun on the spot; the corridor had been deserted, she should have been alone. Instead, Robbie stood there, frowning at her, eyes on the bottle of pills. She quickly shoved them in her pocket and slammed her locker shut. 'What do you want?'

'I came to see if you're okay.'

She shouldered her bag, glaring. 'No, I'm not. Now, leave me alone.' Shouldering past him, she stalked off down the corridor and headed to the exit, Robbie staring after her.

'Thank you,' Lindsey smiled, as Freddie returned to their table with her cup of tea, and a black coffee for himself. He sat down opposite, taking her hand.

'Jack's making lunch now, he said it'll be about ten minutes.'

'Good, I'm starving,' she smiled, hand dropping to rub her stomach. The bump was a little more evident now, and the other morning, she was adamant she'd felt a flutter. It was a step forward from her last pregnancy, and that's what she focused on. Keep moving forward, keep thinking ahead, and the pregnancy would be over before she knew it.

Then, she'd have her baby and everything would be better.

'How are you feeling?' Freddie asked, nodding to her stomach and taking a sip of coffee. She smiled.

'Better. The sickness has passed, at least.'

'That's good. I was think-'

A shadow fell over their table and they looked up to see Joe towering over them, glaring at Lindsey. 'This is all your fault!'

Freddie jumped to his feet, shoving him back. 'You leave her alone.'

'After what she did?' He glared at Lindsey, who'd gone pale. 'You've ruined everything! Gabby won't even speak to me anymore!'

Freddie frowned in confusion. 'Lindsey ain't done anything to your stupid bird, so back off.'

Joe looked at him and laughed. Lindsey's chest felt tight and she gripped the edge of her chair. 'What? She didn't tell you?'

'Tell me what?' Freddie shot her a look, and she noted the nervousness in his features.

Joe's eyes never left his brother's face, needing to see the damage he was about to cause. 'Lindsey kissed me on Tuesday.'

Freddie gave a nervous laugh, glancing at her again. 'She was with me on Tuesday. Right, Lindsey?' His smile faded when she didn't answer, keeping her eyes firmly on the ground. 'Linds?'

'I'm sorry, Fred,' she whispered, still unable to meet the shocked look on his face. Freddie shook his head slowly, his fists balled.

'How could you do this to me? After everything?'

Lindsey looked up, tears in her eyes. Joe was smirking. 'Fred, it was a mistake, I-'

'One thing. I asked you for one thing!' He turned, striding away from the table and slamming his way out The Dog. She felt a stab of despair in her heart, her eyes narrowing as Joe pressed his palms on the table, leaning forward.

'Fuck with me and I'll fuck with you.' His lip curled and he strongly reminded her of Robbie. 'Stay away from me, Lindsey. And stay away from Gabby.' He turned and she watched as he strode out.

Her throat felt thick, as she tried desperately to hold back her tears. She gathered her handbag in trembling hands, just as Jack approached with two plates. 'Lindsey, is everything all right?'

'I...' She swallowed back tears, dashing them away. 'I'm sorry.' Turning, she rushed out the pub, wanting to be away from the stares and the whispers.

She needed to find Freddie and fix this mess she'd created.

The sky was red with the setting sun when Gabby finally locked up the shop and left for home. She made the short walk across the square towards the flats, finding Mel stood outside, key poised in her hand.

Gabby soon realized what caught her attention. She came to a stop beside her best friend, gazing wide-eyed at the front of her flat; no brickwork could be seen for the pink and red banners that shouted 'Forgive me', 'Take me back' and 'I love you'. Large bunches of roses were tied to either side of the front door, rose petals covering the doorstep. A large hamper filled with chocolate sat on the doormat.

Mel spoke first. 'I think Cupid defecated on the flat.'

Gabby didn't know what to say to that, let alone find something to say about the explosion of colour in front of her. She watched as Mel stepped forward, picking up the piece of paper that was on top of the hamper. She passed it behind her.

Gabby unfolded it, eyes scanning the few lines on the paper. Gabby, I'm not exactly the romantic type, but I want you to know how much you mean to me. Kissing Lindsey was the biggest mistake of my life, but if you want me to go, I'll go. But, please, consider what I've said. Love Joe x

Mel had unlocked the front door and was already dragging the hamper inside. 'You know, you really should fall out with him more often. There's enough chocolate in here to last me at least three periods.' She gritted her teeth, giving the hamper a firm tug over the threshold, and disappeared into the house.

Gabby smiled at the note, thoughtful. She glanced behind her, but the street was empty. Stepping forward, she untied a bunch of roses and went inside.