Beautiful readers!

This didn't go where I wanted it too... I wanted this to be the chapter where Janet meets Cassie, but it didn't get that far... instead it became this..

Thank you for all the lovely reviews, I realise i haven't replied to them individually in a while, I'm sorry, stupid exams like to take all my time up!
EmmaJ1996 - thank you! :D
Calliope - There might be! I haven't planned one yet but knowing me I'll get a sudden urge to write one, oh... and as for that typo in chapter 23, I now have scary thoughts of Leo's 'secret life'... lol!
tigpop - thank you and thank you again! :)
Lizziginne - Thank you and well done with your AS modules!

Please review! Todays question is... *imaginary drum roll*... what colour does Cassie want to paint her room and why?

Enjoy,
Much Love x

Chapter Twenty-Five

He watched as the large glowing sphere rose slowly into the dull morning sky. The shimmering, gold disk began to shine with invigorating colour. He sat there drinking in the liquid gold droplets that slowly began to warm up his pale skin. Highlighting the bruise-like circles underneath his eyes making it even more obvious that he'd had no sleep that night. A moment later, the golden sun was sitting in its rightful place among the soft blue sky casting sunbeams in every direction while it illuminated the small town in the valley below. He stared through the glass panes as the colours made by the rising sun changed, growing more vivid with the passing time. Making the sky more radiant as it climbed higher and higher into the sky. It was beautiful and enlightening but at the same time it filled him with fear. The golden ray had first appeared in the sky early in the morning and he had watched as it grew into a big ball of fire changing from dark orange to dark yellow as it began to heat up the earth. It moved across the sky with such grace, almost as if it owned it. It was an amazing sight and yet the fire before his eyes symbolised the pain and hate that would undoubtedly consume the body of his young daughter, and thousands of others that day.

""The sun is an arsonist that sets the sky ablaze…" He whispered to himself, failing to remember where he had heard that quote before.

The beauty of the scene before his eyes should empower him and yet it held nothing but a warning of the horrors that would await him that day.

Behind him, amongst the safety of pleasant dreams and cotton bed sheets, Janet was sleeping. Her face was arranged in a tranquil expression and every now and then a small smile were dance on her lips as she dreamt.

It was in these moments that Leo liked to sit and watch his girlfriend; some may find it creepy that he liked to observe her whilst she slept but it was at time like this that he could truly appreciate his girlfriend's beauty. Her long black hair was fanned out across the pillow; stray pieces framed her face. The soft glow of the sun highlighted her dark skin, her eyelashes fluttered gently as the sun moved into her eyes and she turned over, her back to the window and her breathing once again resumed a steady rhythmic pattern.

Although it had been a while since they last been out together he could still smell her favourite expensive perfume that she only wore on special occasions, it clung to the curtains and to the clean linen on the bed. He could smell her hairspray and her nail polish, almost as if she was getting ready right at that moment. As he watched her sleep peacefully he could almost hear her complaining loudly that she had nothing to wear. This thought of her having nothing to wear always made him chuckle, her wardrobe was pull to the point of bursting with clothes – some of which she had only worn once, still she always needed another outfit for each occasion, she never had anything to wear.

He went over and past on the edge of the bed, talking small steps so as not to wake his sleeping lover. As he sat down the bed groaned, protesting loudly at the added weight. He felt the silky sheets underneath his fingers and breathed in Janet's scent, it was floral and homely. It never failed to relax him and, just like the sight of his lover, it made him fall in love with her all over again.

On the light wooden cabinet beside her be, several glossy magazines shouted at him, screaming the stories of several celebrities. He knew Janet didn't really care about 'Jessica and Justin' and the fact they'd split up or that Kerry Katona thinks Jordan needs to see a councillor. She only read those magazines so she had something to talk to the other women at work about, as a professor she had the responsibility of speaking to everyone in her department and that included the young women with their heads in the clouds who thought of nothing but the latest celebrity scandal.

Suddenly the alarm on the table beside his girlfriend kicked in and the laughter of a radio presenter filled the room as he introduced the topic of today's breakfast show. The bed springs squeaked as his girlfriend shuffled towards the side of the bed, lifting one arm from beneath the covers to begin searching for the cold unwelcoming hard button to turn her alarm clock off. Her eyes flickered open, a dazed expression on her face and she came round, she glanced at him and smiled slightly.

"Watching me were we?" She smirked.

He laughed lightly, "Of course, I was once again struck by your beauty."

A blush rose in her cheeks and she turned away from him, busying herself with the phone on her bedside table.

"Wouldn't believe how many people think it's suitable to text me over night." She muttered to herself making Leo laugh once again.

"Laura again?" He asked.

Laura was Janet's colleague, and the only woman older than Janet in the psychology department. However the woman had failed to grasp an understanding of her age and preferred to spend her time living as though she was still twenty. She often went out clubbing and felt it was necessary to text her friend every time someone looked at her.

Janet was laughing as she read the text message.

"Yeah, she felt she had to inform me that she can't remember how to open her car door and so she had got a taxi home." Janet laughed once more and her friends antics. "She'll still arrive at work on time too, she's amazing that women, how can someone be so professional and yet so immature?"

Leo just shrugged his shoulders, professional yet immature, that reminded him of a certain young man he worked with, however he was still in his thirties and so it was probably still acceptable for him to behave in such a way.

His wife giggled slightly, already knowing what he was thinking about without him saying a word.

They'd had breakfast and got ready as usual before Leo had brought up their decision the night before.

"Do you still want to come and meet Cassie?" He asked.

Janet turned to him, "Of course…"

He smiled, "Well, I promised I'd be back this morning, so if you're ready…?" He left the question hanging.

Janet nodded, worry flashing across her face before she took control of her emotions and placed a smile there instead. "Let me just get my coat.."

Leo wasn't stupid though, and he'd seen the anxious look that had danced across hr features, and he knew what she was thinking. She was scared of how Cassie was going to react, would the girl be willing to share her father with her? Would Cassie accept Janet's place in his life after what had happened to her mother, or would she automatically assume the Janet was there to replace her?

He reached out and placed a hand on his girlfriends arm, "You don't need to be worried, I'm sure she'll love you. Just like I do." He smiled.