Author: Raven Shadowrose

Title: The Ties That Bind

Rating: M

Pairing: Hannah/Dixie, ?/?

Summary: Sequel to Moving On, Hannah and Dixie are about to get married, what events will follow?

Disclaimer: I do not know or own any characters or parts you may recognise from the TV show Casualty, all original characters and the story are mine and I do not give permission for them to be used.

A/N: There will be some femslash in this story, if you do not wish to read it then by all means leave the way you came, other than that, enjoy. I think there's a Casualty episode that is called the ties that bind, this story is nothing to do with that episode. Reviews are welcome :)

Thank you to chan. nelson444, casualtyfanforever and beethovenRIP for taking the time to review, Jeff's dinner date with Emilie is coming up :)

Chapter Thirty-Four.

Jeff looked at himself in the mirror, he didn't wear suits very often, but, he wanted to make an effort on this date with Emilie. He gave himself the once over and wondered if he looked all right. Jeff had taken a shower, had a shave and he'd got himself dressed. His nerves had been increasing as he got ready for the evening ahead. Jeff's phone bleeped and he saw that he had a message from Dixie, he smiled, she had wished him luck and asked him to call her the minute that he got back from the date to let her know how it went. He sent her a quick message back and then Jeff went downstairs, he wanted Polly's opinion on what he was wearing, he hoped that it would make him feel more confident about the date with Emilie. 'Pol,' Jeff said as he went into the lounge and Polly stood up. 'Let's have a look at you then Mr Collier.' Jeff stood still as Polly walked around him and then came to a stop in front of him. 'Come here,' Polly said and reached behind Jeff's neck to make sure that his collar was flat and then she straightened his tie. 'There, you look very handsome.'

'Do you think so?'

'I do, if I didn't think of you as my dad then I would be quite happy to be on your arm Jeff.'

'Thanks Pol,' Jeff said and hugged Polly, her words had made him feel a lot better. 'The restaurant is a nice place and I want to look presentable.'

'Don't worry, you look like a gentleman. Go and get Emilie and have a nice night.'

'What are you going to do tonight Pol?'

'I'll walk Little Abs, have a bath, cuddle up with Little Abs on the sofa in my pyjamas and watch a film or two with some ice cream and chocolate.'

'You should find yourself a date Polly, you're still young and I would like to see you settle down with someone that will take care of you.'

'No doubt I will, when the time is right for me to do so.'

'Whoever it is better look after you or there will be trouble. I will make anyone that hurts you wish that they hadn't been born.'

'I know you will. Go on Jeff, you don't want to be late for your date. I would wish you luck, but, I don't think that you're going to need it.' Jeff hugged Polly and he kissed her head. 'Cheers Polly, I'm so glad that you have so much faith in me.'

'I do, I always have, right from the day that I met you. See you later Jeff.'

'See you later Pol.' Jeff smiled, he picked up his coat and went out to the car, he had cleaned it inside and out earlier on and it smelled of the new air freshener that he had put inside the car.

Emilie stood in front of her mirror, she hadn't been on a date with anyone for a while. Her mind went over the coffee date that she'd had with Jeff, he'd made her smile quite easily. She believed him when he said that he had changed and he wasn't the man that he had been all those years ago. There had been honesty in his voice and in his eyes when he talked about his previous marriage. Emilie smiled, there was something about Jeff that made her feel safe. He had taken care of her when she had been injured in her car, she just knew that he would get her to hospital safely. Emilie looked over her dress, she had bought it specially for the date and she hoped that Jeff liked it. She picked up her necklace and fastened it around her neck, she sprayed some perfume onto her wrists and neck. Emilie slipped her feet into her heels, she had chosen the ones with the low heel so that she could walk comfortably. She heard the knock on the door and picked up the shawl off the chair, Emilie looked at herself in the mirror again and moved a hair behind her ear. She turned off the light in her bedroom and closed the door behind her.

Jeff waited for Emilie to answer the door, he was right on time and he hoped that it would impress her. She opened the door and Jeff looked at her; she was wearing a knee-length purple dress with low black heels, a simple gold necklace with a little pearl hanging off it and she had a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Her hair had been gently curled and Jeff noted that she was wearing perfume, he thought it smelled nice. 'Hello Emilie,' Jeff said. 'You look beautiful.'

'Thank you.'

'Are you ready to go?'

'I am. You look quite the gentleman in that suit.'

'Thank you kind lady.' Jeff waited for Emilie to put her house alarm on and lock her door, he walked with her to the car and opened the door so that she could get in. He took a deep breath and got into the car, so far, so good, he just hoped that Emilie liked the restaurant that he had chosen. Would she mind if he ate meat? Jeff made a mental note to ask her about it before he ordered anything. Should he order them some wine or something else to drink? The butterflies that Jeff had been feeling when he was getting ready for the date returned, he felt as if he was about to go up before the firing squad without any hope of reprieve.

Emilie let Jeff open the door to the car and the restaurant for her, it was nice to be treated like a lady by someone. Jeff dealt with the booking and they were shown to a table at the back of the restaurant, the waitress gave them a menu each and she left them alone. 'Emilie, I know you're a vegetarian, do you mind if I eat meat around you?'

'I don't mind, I wouldn't put my personal preference for not eating meat onto you.'

'Okay, that's good.' Jeff fiddled with the napkin that sat in front of him.

'Jeff, are you nervous?'

'No, maybe, a little bit.'

'I know how you feel.'

'You do?'

'It has been a while since I've been on a dinner date too.'

'Polly told me that everything would be all right, that she had faith in me.'

'Oh, your house mate.'

'Yeah. I used to live with Dixie and then she moved in with her partner, Polly had a bad time in her flat with her evil landlord and I suggested that she moved in with me. She's like a daughter to me.'

'That's sweet.'

'You don't think that it is weird that I live with a younger woman?'

'Not at all, the way you talk about Polly, I can hear that you care for her like she is family.'

'I do, a lot. I want my friends to be happy. Dixie is very happy at the minute.'

'Oh, why is that?'

'Her wife, Hannah, is pregnant with twins.'

'I bet she is happy, that's such a nice thing to happen.'

'I'm glad you think that way, some people don't approve of them being together.'

'Love is love, you can't help who you fall for in life.' Jeff smiled, he hadn't been testing Emilie, but, it was nice to know that she didn't think it was weird that he lived with Polly, or strange that Dixie and Hannah were married and having babies.

Jeff ordered some wine for himself and Emilie, he was going to limit himself as he was driving Emilie home and he didn't want to end up drunk. The waitress came back with their wine and took their orders for the food. 'Are you sure that you don't mind me eating meat?'

'Yes, I appreciate you asking me, but, I do not want you to change who you are for me. I want you to be the man that eats and enjoys bacon.' Jeff smiled, Emilie wanted him to be himself, he hoped that it was a good sign for a future relationship with her. He liked how easy she was to talk to and be around. Emilie was ladylike and polite to the waitress that served them, he liked it. She had chosen the mushroom soup and he picked the same. Emilie ate as ladylike as she acted, it pleased him to see that she had a good appetite. Jeff ate his chicken carbonara when it came and he looked at Emilie's bean enchiladas. 'Those look quite good, I know I'm a meat eater, but, they certainly smell nice. I didn't think that vegetarian food could smell so good.'

'Really, vegetarian food isn't that bad Jeff. I'll cook for you at some point and you can see what I mean, it will be lovely, you'll see.'

'I'll look forward to it.' Jeff finished off the rest of his food and he pushed his plate back, he was really enjoying himself on this date with Emilie.

Emilie sipped at her wine, it was nice to be out with someone that she liked and having a meal with them. The conversation flowed easily and they were currently talking about her family as they ate their strawberry cheesecakes. 'You said you had a sister, what's she like?'

'Helen, she's younger than me by five years, we don't see each other often, but, we get on well when we do. We both have full time jobs, she's a secretary for a law firm, it can be hard to make time to see people sometimes.'

'I'd like to meet her.'

'You will, one day, my mum and dad too if you want to.'

'I would like that.' Emilie smiled at Jeff, it felt good to know that he wanted to meet her family one day.

'What about your family Jeff, what are they like?'

'My sister, Margaret, she's nice, I think you'll like her. My brother, Richard, he's not so nice. I try to see him as little as possible. My mum died some years ago now and my dad has a lot of trouble with his health, my sister looks after him.'

'I'm sorry to hear that, I would like to meet your sister though.'

'That's good to hear. Maybe you could meet Sophia and John too, if you want to.'

'I'd like that, they're your kids and important to you, I know it might be hard for them to meet their dad's new partner, but, if they want to meet me then I will meet with them.'

'Good, I'd like you to meet them too.' Jeff was happy that Emilie wanted to meet Sophia and John, he hoped that they would like her. He signalled to the waitress for the bill and he looked at it when it arrived. 'I can always pay for half of the dinner, you did pay for the coffee after all.'

'No, I invited you out for dinner, it is only fair that I pay.'

'I feel like I should contribute something.'

'You can pay for the next lot of coffee then.'

'Done,' Emilie said with a smile as Jeff settled the bill. Jeff wanted to see her again, she hoped that it meant they were heading towards serious relationship territory.

Jeff waited until Emilie came back from the ladies room and he put his coat around her shoulders as they walked to the car together. It wasn't too cold, but, he thought that it was gentlemanly thing to do. He opened the door to the car for her and then closed it behind her. Jeff watched Emilie throughout the journey back to her house, he thought that she looked cute wrapped up in his coat. He would let her keep it for now, she looked comfortable and happy. Jeff opened the car door for Emilie again and he walked her to the door of her flat. 'Thanks for dinner Jeff, I really enjoyed myself tonight.'

'I did too, I'm glad that you enjoyed it.' Jeff just looked at Emilie as she moved forward and kissed him on the cheek, it took him by surprise, but, he liked it. He automatically put his arms around Emilie and hugged her, she rested her head against his chest and he felt her arms snake themselves around his waist. Jeff wondered if he should kiss Emilie, he looked down at her, she had her eyes closed and the faint trace of a smile on her lips. He didn't want to spoil the moment, she looked so peaceful and happy. Jeff settled for kissing the top of her head and moving his arms around her so she was cuddled even closer into his body. Eventually, Jeff slowly let Emilie go and he stood with her as she opened her front door. 'Goodnight Jeff, thank you again for dinner.'

'You're welcome. Goodnight Emilie.' She handed him back his coat and Jeff put it over his arm. 'Thanks princess.' Jeff saw the smile that Emilie gave him, she obviously liked him calling her princess. Emilie waved at Jeff as she closed the door and he waved back, he went to the car and put his coat on the seat, it smelled of her perfume and Jeff smiled, he had really enjoyed himself.

Polly was still up when Jeff got back, he went into the lounge to see her cuddled up on the sofa with her duvet. 'Hey Jeff, how did it go?'

'Very well, Emilie wants to meet my family and Sophia and John one day.'

'That's good. Are you still taking it slowly?'

'Yeah, slowly.'

'Does that mean you haven't kissed her yet?'

'I was going to, but, she was hugging me and resting her head on my chest. I didn't have the heart to disturb her, she just looked so peaceful. I settled for holding her close instead.'

'That sounds so cute.' Jeff smiled.

'Has Dixie called?'

'Once or twice.'

'I'd better go and call her, she will want to know everything.'

'I agree. Jeff, are you happy?'

'Very.' Jeff smiled at Polly and she smiled back at him.

'I'm glad to hear it.' Jeff picked up his coat and inhaled the scent of Emilie's perfume that still lingered on it, he was very happy at the moment. Jeff picked up the phone dialled Dixie's number, he had a lot to tell her about the date.

Emilie sat down on her sofa and she took her shoes off, she had enjoyed her date with Jeff, he had been a perfect gentleman throughout. She had been talking to him a lot in the six weeks that had passed since her accident and Emilie found that she looked forward to hearing from Jeff. She wondered what their next date would be like, she was looking forward to it. Emilie replayed some of the date in her mind; Jeff had been very warm when he had hugged her. She remembered Jeff kissing her head, she hoped it meant that he liked her as much as she liked him. Emilie respected that Jeff wanted to take their relationship slowly, she quite liked the speed they were going at, it wasn't too fast or too slow. She had got to know Jeff quite well and she liked what he had shown her of his character. Emilie yawned and she decided to take herself off to bed, something told her that she would have very happy dreams tonight.