"Sorry, Em had to work a double shift today so she won't be able to join us. She's on the same shift pattern as Jason, so they'll be finished at the same time."

Serena had invited Kate and Osgood round for dinner, completely fed up of her girlfriend not speaking to her mother and stepmother. Up until that morning Emily had, albeit moodily, agreed to be civil and attempt to work towards forgiving and forgetting. Then, halfway through her shift at the hospital, she had phoned and told Serena that she had to work a double to cover. Apparently there was a vomiting bug ripping through the staff and she was only too willing to work and miss the dinner.

"Emily has a job?" Kate asked, slightly surprised. "Since when?"

"Mmm… She's a HCA. She said she was going to tell you."

"At Holby? Serena, you didn't have to–"

The brunette held up her hands at Kate's words. "I assure you, I had nothing to do with it. She got the job on her own merits and with my nephew's encouragement. I didn't even know until she appeared in my office with some transfer forms."

"Wow…" Kate looked as though she didn't quite believe what she was hearing.

Serena narrowed her eyes slightly. "She's doing very well, by all accounts. She's even talking about doing her qualifications to become a nurse."

"Really? We're still talking about my daughter, right?"

"Emily is more than capable of achieving anything she puts her mind to." Serena snapped irritably.

"Well, yes, but… I never thought…" The blonde shrugged, not taking it personally. "She never showed any interest in medicine before. I always thought Gordy might go back to it one day, but Emily?"

Osgood smiled gently, finally speaking. "I'm pleased for her. She deserves a chance."

"She does." Serena agreed, signalling the end of that particular topic. "Now, can I get you both a drink?"

The conversation and the atmosphere both lightened as the evening progressed. Serena seemed to be trying to stall things, to keep Kate and Osgood around until Emily got home. They, however, were aware of the time and wanted to get back to relieve the babysitter they'd hired to watch the twins.

All three enjoyed themselves, however, enjoying the opportunity for a grown-up conversation that didn't revolve around work or family. Kate was well aware that Serena didn't want to discuss her daughter's untimely death and so they steered clear of mentioning it. Neither were they particularly keen to talk about the chain of events that had led to Emily working for the NHS in the first place. It seemed that, for once, politics was a much safer topic of conversation.

"I have a proposition for you." Serena announced finally, leaning forward and looking between her guests over the remnants of desert.

"That's why you invited us over for dinner, hmm?" Kate asked, smirking at her and fiddling with the stem of her wine glass.

"Partially." The brunette agreed honestly. "Although before Emily had to work it was supposed to be another attempt at a reconciliation."

Kate clenched her jaw but made no comment on the second reason for their invitation, not wanting to spoil the evening. "So? What's this proposition?"

"You know how we're always looking for extra means of funding in order to improve the hospital facilities and skills of our staff?" Serena started, looking between them again.

"Yes…"

"I know that Osgood has been working on a new type of laparoscopic instrument that uses better depth perception, motor control and dexterity than anything we have now."

"Serena… I'm adapting alien technology." Osgood reminded her with a frown. "It's experimental and mostly theoretical and definitely not intended for use around the general public."

"Quite, but there's no reason we can't apply the principals of what you're doing to what I do. Imagine the scope if we could design a much more sensitive set of laparoscopic instruments."

Kate looked at her thoughtfully. "Right, so…?"

"What I'm proposing is this; I work with Osgood to develop the new surgical instruments–"

"Write the papers, cash in on the technology…" The blonde asked cynically, arching an eyebrow.

Serena chose not to comment, but a slight smirk twisting her lips told the scientists all they needed to know on the matter. "In return we create a partnership between the Holby Trust and UNIT to develop the medical skills of your team. I'm sure you remember how well our Trauma Unit runs?"

"Who says the skills of our medical team need developing?"

"Oh, please…" Serena rolled her eyes. "You know that we have some of the finest surgeons and consultants in the country… the world! It wasn't all that long ago that your field medics were unable to save your life and you needed to be airlifted to the nearest trauma centre. They don't have the expertise they need to deal with the situations that arise in your line of work; how, I have no idea, but you need to accept that."

"Come on, Serena." Kate laughed, unable to argue that point. "UNIT isn't exactly common knowledge. How are you planning, exactly, to clear this proposal with Hanssen and the board? How are you planning to convince the Ministers for Defence and Health to sanction this?"

"Leave Hanssen to me. The other stuff is your department, not mine."

"Woah…" Osgood looked between the two women quickly. They were looking at each other unflinchingly, small smirks on each of their faces. "I can see what Kate meant, now."

"Hmm?" Serena glanced in the younger woman's direction.

"Oh…" Osgood's eyes widened. "She said you were passionate about your job… that you were one of the few people she wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"It was definitely intended as one." Kate assured her with a smirk.

"So, what do you say, Ms Stewart?"

Considering her for a moment, Kate held out her hand and shook Serena's. "Deal."

"I think this calls for another bottle of wine."

Serena had just stood up to collect it from the kitchen when they heard the front door open and close. There was a scuffling sound from the hallway and a thud, which Serena recognised as both Jason and Emily dropping their bags on the floor. Muffled voices greeted their ears, growing louder when the living room door opened.

"…but that's just not possible. Physically it makes no sense." Emily was arguing.

"But it does. They need strong biceps and triceps. While it's helpful to have strong Quadriceps, Hamstrings and Soleus muscles, I think the arms give the edge."

"No way, Jase. You'd have to be blind not to see that it's all about the legs. They always tell you not to skip leg day."

"That's more about aesthetics than–"

"Emily, Jason?" Serena called, interrupting their conversation about World's Strongest Man and drawing their attention to the dining room.

Two faces appeared around the doorway. Jason beamed at their guests, greeting them warmly and immediately engaging Osgood in a conversation about something he'd read in one of his magazines. She was only too happy to be drawn into a conversation about the latest findings at NASA. Emily, however, attempted to slope away immediately.

"Oh, no you don't." Serena told her in a low voice, wrapping her arm around her girlfriend's waist and pushing her further into the room. "Your mother wanted to speak to you."

"She did?"

"I did?"

"Yes, she did." Serena replied meaningfully, narrowing her eyes as she looked between mother and daughter.

"I…"

The shrill ringing of Kate's phone interrupted them. Everyone recognised the personalised ringtone that signalled it was work calling. Apologising, the blonde left the room to answer the call, Emily rolling her eyes in response and telling Jason that she'd get them something to eat. He followed her into the kitchen, completely missing the atmosphere that had descended. Serena and Osgood exchanged a frustrated look, before the younger woman started gathering her things ready to leave.