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'I cannot believe you're well enough to come home in just seventeen days' Hattie chattered happily as she packed a bag with the toiletries and clothes Julia had accumulated during her hospital stay. 'I officially have a superhuman fiancée.'

'I think it's more the fact my mother is Jac Naylor' Julia chuckled as she platted her long hair.

'Your mother, by the way, is not very happy about the welcome home party your father and Mo is throwing' Hattie mused. 'I mean she hasn't stopped it but she's being quite disparaging.'

'When isn't she disparaging?' Julia sat down on the edge of bed and passed Hattie her hairbrush to be packed away in the bag. 'She just hates having people in her house, it's normally her sanctuary from the rest of the world.'

'Soon we'll be moving into our own sanctuary from the rest of world' Hattie laughed before gently kissing Julia. 'I can't wait' she smiled.

'Nor can I' Julia smiled back. 'I need to tell you something though.'

'Tell me what?' Hattie frowned.

'It's about money. My money' Julia began.

'Let's not worry about financial matters now' Hattie shook her head 'let's just celebrate getting you home. We'll figure out how we're going to pay the bills later.'

'That's just it, we don't need to worry about how to pay the bills if we don't want to. There's a trust fund with a lot of money in it.' Julia looked down at her hands.

'But I thought...'

'I lied' Julia confessed. 'I hate where that money came from. I hate the idea that I earned it from what happened. But the fact is it's there and when I turn 21 I can access all of it.'

'So how much is there?' Hattie asked awkwardly.

'Enough to live off if it's carefully managed' Julia sniffed.

'Beau look at me' Hattie spoke softly. She waited for Julia to look up. ' Don't be ashamed of this money. Never be ashamed, it was never your fault. Your anxiety and mental health are not your fault. But it is present, it is in our lives. Don't make things harder for yourself.' Julia nodded to show she understood. 'I love you Julia Naylor-Maconie. I want you to have a good life. I don't care how we live it so long as you are happy.'

'You make me happy' Julia smiled. 'I'd already decided to accept the money a couple of days ago because I want to live with you in our house. Just you and me, together. I didn't want you to be mad at me.'

'Why would I be mad?' Hattie pulled Julia into her arms and held her tightly . 'It's your choice about the money, it has nothing to do with how I feel about it. But personally I think the best revenge you can have against those evil people is to use that money to have the best life possible. Stick it to them with your happy freedom.'

...

'Thanks for doing all of this Mo' Julia spoke softly 'the cake was amazing.'

'Anytime' Mo smiled as she finished the washing up. 'You know we're all so pleased to see you home.' She watched as Julia nodded. 'Bit over whelmed?'

Julia fiddled with a tea towel 'everything feels different somehow. I don't know.'

'You've just been through a very traumatic event, it changes things, it changes how you view the world.' Mo reached out and gently squeezed Julia's arm 'overtime things will start to feel more normal again, you'll see.'

'Mum is watching me like a hawk' Julia shrugged.

'You'd rather she didn't care?' Mo joked. Julia shrugged again. 'She loves you, she might not be great with showing it sometimes but you and Ava are everything to her. So if you think she's being a bit narcissistic, suck it up. She almost lost you, she isn't going to let you make anything less than a full recovery.'

'I overheard people talking about her when I was on the ward, it wasn't all nice' Julia confessed.

'Your mum is amazing that's all you need to know' Mo frowned 'how she treats you is all you need to worry about. You know she'll support you no matter what – not many people can say that about their parents.'

'I guess' Julia smiled guiltily. 'I just worry that I'll disappoint her.'

'Impossible' Mo laughed before hugging Julia lightly. 'You should hear her in our office Julia this, Julia that – none of it is bad. Just take your time to find your feet; no one is in any rush to see you miraculously recover from this, least of all your mum.'

...

Julia shuffled her way down to her mother's office. It was late but she knew her mum would still be awake.

'Hi Angel' Jac smiled as she saw her daughter leaning against the door frame. 'Can't sleep?' she watched as Julia nodded. 'Is it the pain?' this time Julia shook her head.

'I've been thinking about what should have been Ava's and Markus's wedding day' Julia shuffled in the room and sat herself down in the armchair opposite her mothers desk. ' Its six weeks away. We need to do something to distract her on the day otherwise it's going to be unbearable.'

'I've been thinking the same thing. How would you feel if I took Ava to London. Just me and her?'

'I'm not a kid I wouldn't be jealous' Julia frowned.

'I didn't think you would be' Jac rolled her eyes. 'How would you cope with your anxiety if I went away for a few days?' Jac rephrased the question.

'I'd be okay' Julia shrugged 'I have Hattie now don't forget.'

'I know' Jac let out a soft laugh as she smiled. 'It always surprises me how grown up you've become. No longer my lanky teenager, you've turned into a beautiful young woman.'

'How can it surprise you?' Julia laughed. 'You were there for all of it.'

'Sometimes it feels like I blinked and missed it' Jac sighed. 'Can you keep a secret for me?'

'Sure' Julia nodded.

'I've had a letter from Buckingham Palace. They're giving me a MBE' Jac watched as Julia's mouth fell open in shock. 'Well say something then.'

'You cannot expect me to keep that a secret' Julia stuttered. 'That's huge! Its amazing! Why aren't you excited about it?'

'Because I feel fraudulent' Jac shrugged. 'Surprise – your mother is as messed up as they come' she joked feebly to cover over her embarrassment.

'You need to tell Dad at least. I mean you'll want him to be your plus one when you go for the ceremony' Julia persisted.

'It's called an investiture' Jac corrected her daughter. 'I'm not even sure I'm going to accept it.'

'You can't say no to the queen' Julia narrowed her eyes at her mother. 'I'm giving you an ultimatum. Either you tell Dad by breakfast tomorrow or I'm going to tell Michael' Julia crossed her arms determinedly. 'And before you say I wouldn't dare, you should know I absolutely would.'