A/N - Honestly guys, the way you all big up this story on Twitter means so much. Fire Meet Gasoline, for me, is the greatest story I've ever had the pleasure of reading on here & it blows my mind this one even gets mentioned in the same breath. That's the biggest compliment for me, so yeah, thank you heaps. Here's chapter forty-four, I hope you enjoy it x

Climbing the stairs, Bea crossed the hall and gently knocked twice on her daughter's bedroom door. Waiting for the young brunette's voice calling out, giving her the OK to enter, she pushed the door open, sticking her head in the room before Debbie invited her in properly. The younger woman sat up, turning her music down as her mum perched herself on the edge of her bed, she sensed something was on her mind and she wasn't entirely sure what. Considering just an hour ago both her Mum and Allie had happily told her about their plans for the blonde to move in permanently, she wasn't sure what would have happened to change the mood so quickly and hoped nothing bad was about to follow.

"If this is you coming to double check I'm ok about Allie moving in then you're totally wasting your time," she smiled, noticing only the sign of a brief one appearing across the redhead's face. Debbie was more than delighted that Allie was going to be moving in, cementing their relationship even further. This place had been her home for months anyway, as much as no one said it out loud it's what everyone thought. "You know how I feel about all that,"

"Yeah, of course I do. The mini fist pump and huge grin on your face earlier gave it away,"

"I told you she would say yes, didn't I?" She grinned smugly, happy she was proved right. There was never any shred of doubt in her mind. They belonged together and as Allie was here for more than half of a week most times anyway, it made perfect sense. Her Mum always missed the blonde terribly when she wasn't staying over and she was more than sure Allie had the same sort of feelings. Plus, she'd be off to university soon and beforehand she felt a little worried about leaving her Mum but now, with Allie there, she wouldn't have to worry about the redhead being on her own. "I'm so happy for you, the both of you. We should throw a party soon, welcome Allie home properly, well after this stupid appeal with Harry is over with,"

"Maybe, we could do,"

"It'll be wicked and she'd love that, not to mention the rest of the girls. With me off to uni soon, it makes leaving home a little bit easier knowing you have Allie here,"

"You worry too much about me, Deb,"

"You know what I mean. You've had to wait years to finally enjoy life. Of all the people to find me that night I ran away, I'm so glad it was her. Although, sometimes I look at you both and see you are totally perfect for each other, I think you would have found each other regardless of that night,"

"Yeah?" Bea smiled, her stomach doing somersaults. She'd be lying if she said that thought hadn't crossed her mind too. She was so incredibly lucky to have Allie in her life and there was no denying they fitted together perfectly, the redhead had never believed in all the soulmate stuff beforehand but maybe just maybe it was all true. Maybe Allie was always destined to find her and be with her.

"God yes," Debbie repeated, giggling at the near dreamy look spread across her Mum's face. "She's so madly in love with you, it's blatantly obvious to anyone who spends two seconds in her company,"

"Well, the feeling is very much mutual,"

"Again, blatantly obvious," she smirked, playfully hitting the redhead with the spare pillow, giggling when the redhead got the upper hand and overpowered her. After a few seconds of messing around, they both paused for breath, Debbie straightening out her messy hair.

"I did come up here for a reason," Bea admitted gently, Debbie sensing in her Mum's tone that it was in fact something serious. "I really don't want to keep any secrets from you, Deb,"

"Ok," she replied softly, sitting back down on the bed next to her Mum. "You're worrying me a little now, what's going on?"

"The police were here this morning, you and Allie were still asleep," she began, reaching out to clasp the brunette's hand. Taking a deep intake of breath to steady herself, she continued. "It was about Harry. He's... There's no easy way for me to tell you this so I'm just going to say it. They said he's escaped from the prison,"

"Are you serious?"

"I really wish I wasn't. Said it was last night, they don't know how, I'm not sure I even care how he wriggled himself out. I just know I want him back in there and fast. I know I should have told you sooner but I'm pretty certain he's the reason Allie got attacked too,"

"Wait, what?"

"Obviously not himself but he's capable of having someone out here to do his dirty work for him. What he did to her, that would have been payback for the visit. It all makes sense. Why would anyone do that to her? They didn't take anything and they could have but they just left her for dead. It was a message, from him to us. Nothing's been proved yet but the police are looking into it,"

"The slimy bastard," she cursed aloud, Bea allowing her that one. She was angry. They both were. "What's happening now?"

"They're out there looking for him," she sighed, rubbing her forehead. "They said they could protect us until he's caught,"

"How are they gonna do that?"

"Have someone watch the house, day and night,"

"Prisoners in our own home,"

"That's what I said,"

"He would love that, wouldn't he? They can't follow us everywhere, all the time," she realised, her voice low and quiet. "Do you think he'd come here for us?"

"I wouldn't put it past him," she answered honestly, squeezing back the young brunette's hand. "He obviously doesn't care about the appeal hearing because he's thrown all that away after this. Listen Deb, I know you'll be scared but I promise you, I won't let him or anyone else hurt you, ok? I'd die before I let anyone touch you,"

"And what about you?"

"Don't worry about me," Bea insisted, tucking some of the brunette's hair behind her ear. Putting on the bravest of faces, she continued. "I've dealt with him before, I can do it again,"

"Mum, I don't want him anywhere near you ever again,"

"Please don't worry," she repeated again. "Everything is going to be alright, I promise,"

"You always say that,"

"And I mean it," she insisted, pulling the younger woman into a tight hug. "You're my baby and I'll protect you, no matter what,"

"Thank you for telling me the truth," Debbie spoke after a few prolonged seconds of silence. "I know it wouldn't have been easy,"

"I wasn't going to lie to you," she said. "You or Allie. You both deserve to know what's going on,"

"Is she ok?"

"She'll be fine, she's worried about you,"

"She always puts us before herself, doesn't she?" She smiled weakly, resting her head on her Mum's shoulder. "I'll be ok, I just wish he would disappear for good and leave us to get on with our lives,"

"Me too, kid,"

"I hate that he's still hanging over us, ruining everything,"

"Hey, he won't be ruining anything. The three of us together, we're stronger than him,"

It was late afternoon when the text came through to the blonde's mobile. Franky asking Allie if she was up for a couple of visitors in the shape of herself and Boomer. Needing some light conversation to keep her mind busy, she replied, letting them know it was ok to come over. Around twenty minutes later, they arrived in the tattooed brunette's car, neither of them picking up on the fact that Bea immediately locked the front door after they entered. With her girlfriend disappearing off into the kitchen with Franky, Allie wandered back into the lounge with Boomer following closely behind. She arrived with a box of gift wrapped chocolates and a get well soon card, signed by the rest of the girls.

"I didn't know what else to get you, I knew Franky had already got you flowers at the hospital and to be honest, I'm crap at buying them,"

"You really didn't have to get me anything," Allie was touched, the kind gesture from her friends really making her way more emotional. "Thanks Booms, I love the card, it's so sweet from all of you,"

"You're welcome. Liz sends her love by the way, she said she'll see you soon. You gave us quite a scare, I would have came to see you at the hospital but I thought you'd prefer the rest eh,"

"I pretty much slept most of my time in there, I hate hospitals they remind me of so much shit,"

"Yeah same. Do the police know anything yet?" She asked, Allie shaking her head in response to the question. She didn't like lying but didn't want to let slip about Harry without knowing if Bea wanted it out in the open. She was fairly certain her girlfriend was in the kitchen right now telling Franky but that was different. She basically told the tattooed brunette everything and always had done. "Whenever they find them, I swear I'm going to kick some fucking heads in,"

"Thanks Booms," she chuckled, the dark haired woman's protective trait shine through brightly. She loved that about Boomer, right from the first meeting, Allie could tell how fiercely loyal she was to her friends and now, she was included in that bracket. "I don't want you getting yourself in trouble over me though,"

"They deserve it for doing all this to you. How are you feeling?"

"I won't lie to you, I've been a lot better," she smiled, readjusting her seating position, wincing as the pain shooting through her body edged up a considerable notch. "Broken bones are no fun,"

"Do you want me to get Bea for you?"

"No, don't be silly. She'll be back in a minute I'm sure. Actually, she'll be in there telling Franky the good news, so I guess it's only fair I tell you,"

"Good news? We could really do with hearing some of that,"

"Bea asked me to move in and I said yes,"

"Awk wow blondie, that's friggin great news," Boomer gushed happily, being extra careful when she pulled the blonde into a warm hug. "Congrats eh, I'm mega pleased for both of you, Bea's like a whole new person with you around,"

"So everyone keeps telling me. All I've done for her, she's done for me too, trust me," Allie replied, gently drawing herself back from the typically mammoth embrace from the other woman. She was getting used to them. "I may need some help moving things from the flat, I'm pretty useless at the moment,"

"Just say when, we'll all help ya, no problem,"

"Thanks Booms, I'll pay you in shot form obviously," she added, readjusting the cushion behind her. "Anyway, enough about me for now. Franky was telling me the good news about your date. I'm really pleased things are going well for you,"

"Well, it's still really early days,"

"Yeah and he's already got the all important Doyle stamp of approval, so he's obviously doing something right. Franky doesn't just dish that out to anyone, especially so early and especially when it comes to you,"

"Normally she's told them to fuck off by now and they scarper off never to be seen again,"

"It's only because she loves you so much and she's super protective,"

"I know,"

"So, when do we get to meet him?"

"Soon," Boomer agreed. She really couldn't wait for the rest of her friends to meet the guy who had brought the constant smile to her face recently. "How does next weekend sound? He's got some work stuff coming up, so he's going to be pretty busy for the next few days,"

"Sounds great. I'll speak to Bea, we'll sort something out,"

Flicking on the kettle, settling about getting four mugs ready for three coffees and a tea, Bea had just finished telling the tattooed brunette about the good news she had to share. Deciding it was best to opt for the good stuff before the really not so good.

"Congratulations Red," she beamed, playfully slapping her friend on the back. "I knew you'd grow a set and finally ask her. I'm so fucking pleased for ya,"

"Thanks Franky, I blurted it out like a total arsehole and probably made a fool of myself but thankfully she said yes,"

"Come on. She was never going to say anything else. You and blondie playing house is quite possibly the cutest thing ever," she grinned, accepting the mug of coffee. She really did love seeing this side of her friend, she never thought she would and then the blonde came into her life as if from nowhere and everything had changed. "So, when you gonna christen every room in here?"

"Franky," Bea's eyes rolled. She shouldn't have even been surprised. "You're terrible,"

"What? It's the best way to make it official," she threw her head back laughing, quickly noting the redhead's cheeks colour up, the older woman doing almost everything possible to not make eye contact. "Wait, you two already have? Jesus, in here too? I never knew you had it in you but one thing is for sure, I'm never going to fucking look at that dining table the same way,"

"Probably best not look at anything in the lounge either then," she smirked, managing to grasp some confidence within her to hit back when her friend was least expecting it. It didn't happen very often but Bea was always proud of herself when she managed to make the tattooed brunette speechless. "You asked for that one, Doyle,"

"Yeah yeah,"

"There's something else I need to talk to you about actually," she took a sharp intake of breath, steadying herself for a moment or two. "This one ain't so good but I don't want to keep it from you of all people,"

"Ok, shoot," she replied, frowning a little in confusion.

"Harry,"

"What's the bastard done now?"

"Escaped," she answered straight away, watching the colour pretty much drain from her friend's face. "He's managed to get out, he's been out there somewhere since late last night,"

"You aren't serious?"

"It's not something I'd joke about,"

"No, I know Red, I'm sorry it's just... Fuck," she exhaled deeply. "Does Allie know about this?"

"Yeah, I wouldn't lie to her. Debbie knows too,"

"Are they ok?"

"Under the circumstances, yeah,"

"And you?" She asked, the redhead shrugging her shoulders before giving a really poor performance making out she was fine. Franky, of course, knew a lot better than that. Red always did put on a front but just as good as she was at that, Franky was even better at seeing straight through it. "You can talk to me, you know that. Whatever you say to me in here, it goes no further,"

"My girlfriend has just agreed to move in with me, I should be bloomin' ecstatic and I am but... I don't know, it's just ... Him. I'm scared, Franky. I'm so fucking scared of what he might do to me, to Debs, to Allie,"

"Hey, come here," the younger woman soothed, pulling her friend into a comforting hug. "Everything is going to work out, I promise. Why don't you go away for a few days?"

"Trust me, I've thought about it," she murmured into her best friends shoulder. The thought had crossed her mind more than once today. Packing a bag and escaping had never seemed so appealing. "But I can't. Allie isn't feeling herself after all that's happened and Debs has her university open day this week. Running away lets him win and the way he's going, he'd probably manage to find us anyway,"

"Hang in there, ok?" Pulling the older woman back, she stroked some of the red curls from her face. "Everything will be back to how it should be soon and with any luck, we will never have to hear his name again. They'll get him and when they do, he's got no fucking chance of getting out of there,"

"I fucking hope so,"

"Me too, Red. It'll all be over soon,"

"Oi Doyle," Allie's voice appeared from the doorway, the blonde struggling into the kitchen, her arm clutching her side as she got closer to the pair. "Hands off my girl,"

"Sorry Novak, I didn't see you there,"

"Yeah, clearly," she threw back playfully, slipping her free arm around her girlfriend's waist.

"You should be resting," Bea noted, lightly leaving a kiss on the blonde's lips. "I was just about to bring you this,"

"Thank you. I came for my painkillers, that and Booms wanted me to tell you both to move your arses," she giggled, searching for her pills in the drawer before she took two with some water. "Oh and you've to remember the biscuits,"

"I've been thinking," Boomer announced as the other three women walked into the lounge, each carrying a mug, the redhead handing another over to her dark haired friend who had clearly been plotting in the short time she was left alone. "We should do drinks you know, to celebrate. Like not at the bar or anything, you should have a party here, welcome blondie properly,"

"Are we not a little old for house parties?" Bea frowned a little, not completely set on the idea.

"Ha, no you aren't," Franky interrupted before turning towards Boomer, knowing her other two friends had more serious matters in their minds, in the shape of one giant dickhead. She was certain neither of them would want to properly celebrate anything whilst he was on the loose. "Maybe something to think about when Allie fully recovers, huh Booms?"

"Yeah sure," she agreed, totally unaware of the real reasoning behind the delay. "Gives me time to think up all the fun drinking games,"

"Oi, I haven't agreed to this yet," Bea laughed.

"But you will," Allie whispered, tilting the redhead's gaze towards her own. "You know you'll give in eventually, you always do,"

"A party, that's really what you want?"

"I don't care," the blonde's voice was still a whisper, this time lower than the first. Nuzzling into her girlfriend's neck, she lightly kissed the same spot twice before resting her head. "All I care about is being here with you in our home,"

"I love how that sounds," she grinned, enjoying the feeling of the younger woman cuddling closer into her body. Not so long ago, Bea would have been terribly self conscious about showing so much affection to someone else but now she really didn't care. She was so in love she was sure she could scream in from the rooftops every single night until everyone heard her and everyone knew that Allie Novak was hers. "Our home, our home together,"

"What are you doing?" Allie quizzed with a gentle chuckle as her girlfriend continued repeating the words.

"A sexy woman that totally has my heart has agreed to move in with me and I just realised I get to wake up to her beautiful face every morning, I want to make sure it's not a dream,"

"It's definitely not a dream baby," leaning in, she softly kissed the redhead's lips, raising her middle finger to the tattooed brunette in the background who was predictably making gagging noises next to a giggling Boomer.

As much as they joked around at the display of affection they were witnessing, neither of them could have been happier for their best friend. If anyone deserved everything good in life it was Bea and Novak had more than proved herself since she confidently walked into the salon many months ago. Franky sussed the blonde straight away but told herself to keep a close eye on the younger woman, not willing to let anyone with the wrong intentions get close to the redhead. Last thing she wanted was Bea getting hurt again, she had been through more than enough thanks for that waste of space of an ex husband. Thankfully, blondie was the complete opposite in every single way.

"Do you think they even realise we're still here?" Boomer whispered towards the tattooed brunette, who chewed her lip to stop herself from laughing out loud. She swore the blonde had had her lips attached to Bea's for the last two minutes without pausing much for breath.

"Nah, I think we faded into the background ages ago," she replied, pushing herself up from the sofa before collecting the four empty mugs from the table, handing two to Boomer. "Come help us make some more coffee and let's leave these two until they realise they actually need air to breathe,"