"Sylvia I want to thank you for everything you've done for me" Nikki told the older woman as they stood in the kitchen washing and wiping up after dinner "I mean you've only known me a few days and in that time I've cried over you twice and spilt my heart to you but you've never judged me at all"

"That's alright dear" Sylvia nodded as she patted Nikki on the arm "What are us older generation for if not to listen and give advice?"

Nikki then glanced through the kitchen door and into the living room but Harry wasn't in there, just in case however, Nikki hobbled over and shut the door before leaning back on it and biting her lip.

"What's wrong dear?" Sylvia asked as she seated herself at the kitchen table but Nikki stayed standing where she was.

"I love Harry, I really do Sylvia don't get me wrong" Nikki started and lowered her head slightly causing some of her hair to fall and frame her face "But he is being such a...I don't know how to.." she decided to bite the bullet "he won't have sex with me" she told the woman in front of her and felt herself flush slightly as the older woman raised an eyebrow.

"Do you know why?"

"He says he doesn't want to be like all the other men and jump straight into bed with me but I don't know how to respond to that. I've never had a man who doesn't want sex straight away" Nikki swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat and looked down at the floor, embarrassed.

"Don't be embarrassed" Sylvia chuckled and patted the seat next to her "Sit down"

Nikki did as she was told and leant her crutch on the side of the table before focussing all her attention on the peppershaker in front of her instead of the woman sitting next to her.

"As much as it may surprise you Nikki, I was in the same situation you are in now when I met Arthur, Harry's dad, but back then it was worse if you had sex before marriage, it just wasn't the done thing. I had a fair few lovers, no, they weren't lovers there was no love involved. I had a fair few men before Arthur and I wasn't proud of it, I was embarrassed about it and hid it from Arthur for a while but then I had to tell him because it would have been obvious. And instead of jumping in bed with me like all the other men did he set about to woo me. At the beginning I was so confused because I had never had this sort of treatment before"

Nikki sniffled and nodded, tears rolling down her face before she wiped them away in frustration.

"Harry just seemed outraged and shocked that all they wanted was the sex" she admitted and Sylvia reached out and gripped Nikki's hand in hers.

"You are a very beautiful woman Nikki" Sylvia told her and Nikki blushed "I think Harry is surprised that a beautiful woman like yourself hasn't been treated how he thinks it is right to treat a woman. When he was growing up Arthur always told Harry to always treat women with respect"

"What do I do?" Nikki asked quietly "I don't know how to have this kind of relationship"

"Let Harry teach you then" Sylvia replied "He's a good man"

"I know" Nikki nodded as she sniffed and wiped her face again "I haven't cried this much in years" she laughed shakily and Sylvia chuckled before handing Nikki a clean tissue. Nikki smiled and blew her nose just as Harry walked into the room.

"Why is the door...Nikki are you alright?" he asked as he spotted the tear tracks on her face and her red eyes.

"I'm fine now Harry" Nikki smiled and Harry walked over to her and entwined their hands "I promise"

Harry glanced at his mother who just nodded before he turned back to Nikki and gave her a smile.

"Sure?"

"Sure" Nikki replied and stood up before gripping the crutch and leaning on it "I'm going for a shower"

Harry nodded and watched as she hobbled out of the room before he was conscious of a small smile on his face. He heard his mother chuckling and turned back to her and frowned.

"You have a love struck look on your face"

"No I don't" Harry replied indignantly and sat in Nikki's vacated chair "I just..."

"Love Nikki very much" Sylvia interrupted and Harry nodded and gave her a smile "It shows. You get a spark in your eyes when you look at her and the same when you think about her, I know you Harry"

Harry blushed violently at what his mother was saying and reached over to fiddle with the saltshaker on the table.

"I should go home" Sylvia then said and Harry whipped his head around to look at her "To give you two space"

"You don't have to mum" Harry protested "I haven't seen you in a long time"

"How about I go home but we promise to call each other at least twice a week. Six months is a long time not to talk to your child. You'll understand when you have children" she paused "With Nikki" she added under her breath as she turned away and Harry ducked his head and smiled.

"Okay I promise to call you twice a week and tell you gory details of at least one case" Harry joked "And don't lie I know you like reading about the gore in the papers"

"Well I like to know what my son is up to" Sylvia responded with a grin on her face "and yeah you're right I love a bit of gore"

Harry chuckled and Sylvia joined in before her son sobered up.

"Nikki's alright isn't she?" he asked quietly and motioned to the kitchen door with his head "I mean it looked a pretty serious conversation when I walked in"

"Nikki's fine love" Sylvia replied and reached over to pat Harry's hand "Make sure you keep her"

"Oh I intend to mum"

I wanted to get Nikki and Sylvia bonded over something and thought this was the best thing. Yeah so I made Sylvia sound like a bit of a slag but I need someone for Nikki to relate to :P.

xxx