A/N- I'm not sure about this chapter, sort of adjusted little parts of it over last night and today but I want to try and update as regular as possible for you guys. The support you give this story is completely amazing, so thank you again for the recent comments. You guys rock! :) Here we go with the next chapter, the drama levels go up a notch or two..

Turning over in the darkness that completely surrounded her, Bea spotted that the alarm clock on the side now read 3.18am. She sighed heavily. She had now been in bed for over two hours and had spent most of that time tossing and turning uncomfortably, unable to shut her mind off to allow her body some sleep. She was thankful it was different for the blonde laying next to her, Allie had pretty much managed to drift into a sleep as soon as her head touched the pillow, although, Bea suspected that her girlfriend's dosage of painkillers certainly would have helped her into a steady slumber. She was pleased her girlfriend was sleeping, knowing and experiencing first hand that it was something that wasn't going to come easy under the current circumstances.

The last forty eight hours followed the same pattern. Bea hadn't been able to get too much sleep the night previous either and she accepted this was going to be a familiar routine until she heard some positive news about Harry and his whereabouts. So far, much to her distress, there had been absolutely nothing from the police. No leads, not even one hint of a sighting anywhere and that was making the redhead incredibly on edge. Throughout the day, she'd brave it out for the sake of Debbie and Allie but ultimately her guard slipped at these times and it had done again this evening.

"Hey," Allie hushed, Bea only realising the blonde was awake when she felt the softness of her thumb gently stroking across her cheek, rubbing the silent tears that had fallen. "Why are you crying?"

"I didn't know you were awake,"

"Only for a minute," she replied, shuffling her body closer to the older woman before she propped herself up on her elbow, not the easiest of tasks given her injuries but she managed. "You didn't answer my question, baby. What's wrong?"

"I just wish things were different," she confessed, a broken sob escaping her lips, paining the younger woman's heart. "I sometimes wonder what the hell you are doing with me,"

"I love you," Allie stated simply. She knew Bea was putting a front on the last few days, trying to be brave and strong for Debbie and herself but the last thing she wanted was Her girlfriend bottling things up. "That's why I'm here and that's why I'm never going anywhere either,"

"You've been dragged into so much mess, all my mess,"

"Bea, please don't cry," swooping down, she lightly kissed the older woman's lips. If there was one thing she hated more than anything else it was seeing her girlfriend so upset and all she wished she could do was take it all away and make things much better. "Your mess is my mess too, ok? We're in this together, we'll tackle everything together,"

"You don't think you deserve better than all this?"

"Now I know you're talking crazy. There's no one better than you, so please don't think that. I'm exactly where I want to be,"

"You are?"

"One hundred percent," Allie reassured, resting her head back on the pillow, taking a few seconds longer to get herself comfortable again. "I don't want to be anywhere else ever. Please don't think I deserve better than you, you're beautiful, you're everything I want and more,"

"I just hate that all this is happening, him being out there, it's turning me back into who I used to be. This pathetic, weak cow and that's the last thing I want you to see,"

"All I see when I look at you is this beautiful, brave, incredibly strong, amazing woman," Allie whispered, tracing her index finger down her lover's face. "All that, that's all I'm ever going to see when I look at you,"

"I'm so lucky to have you, Allie Novak,"

"Nonsense, we both know I'm the lucky one. I'm so so proud of you,"

"Thank you," she managed the weakest of smiles, closing her eyes shut as she felt Allie's thumb run across her bottom lip. If anything made her feel better about anything, it was the comfort of having the blonde close to her. Having her girlfriend here permanently still gave her butterflies. "I'm sorry I woke you,"

"I wish you had a lot sooner,"

"I don't like to bother you and you looked so peaceful,"

"Watching me sleep again, were you?" She teased, her fingers stroking up and down the older woman's forearm. She didn't continue again until her girlfriend's eyes flickered back open. "You don't need to put your brave face on all the time with me, you know? It's ok to feel whatever it is you're feeling, I'm here to listen, to be there for you,"

"I don't want you to worry about me,"

"I would anyway. I know you're scared and that's ok,"

"He's already got to you, hurt you,"

"And I'm still here, I'm still here with you so whatever it is he tried to do, he failed. I was thinking earlier, when this is all over, I'm taking you away for a few days,"

"You don't have to do that,"

"I want to. You deserve a break, a proper one and I've already been searching some places. I found this beautiful place down by the coast, it's not overly expensive but it's so perfect, so peaceful and it'll be great for us to unwind, have some time away from everything just the two of us,"

"But the salon,"

"I've already sorted the salon," the blonde revealed, explaining that she had exchanged some messages with Maxine the day before, who was more than happy to continue taking charge of the salon until however long she needed to. Despite knowing nothing about Harry's escape, she knew about the appeal and knew how much things had been getting on top of her friend. A change of scenery and a few peaceful, relaxing days away with her girlfriend was just what Bea needed. "I'm one step ahead. All I have to do is phone the reception and make a booking but I won't do that until you're ready. There's no rush,"

"Well, they do need to find him first,"

"They will sweetheart,"

"You're always taking such good care of me,"

"You're my girl, I'll always take care of you," she promised, losing her fingers in the softness of her girlfriend's red curls. "We'd have our own private balcony and hot tub so I guess you could say I'm being completely selfish really,"

"Yeah," she chuckled, capturing the blonde's bottom lip between her own. "I love you,"

"I love you too, don't forget it,"

"I won't,"

"I won't let you anyway," smirking slightly, she grabbed another kiss before she gently tugged the redhead closer, insisting that for once she accepts the role of the smaller spoon. It was usually the other way around, Bea loved enveloping the blonde in her arms as they drifted off together but tonight was going to be different. "I'm right here with you and I'll be right here in the morning when you wake up too,"

"Promise?"

"Double promise,"

The next morning Bea awoke to find Allie gazing at her from across the pillow, the blonde's fingers were subconsciously stroking circles on the redhead's toned stomach. She was off in her own little world and the older woman didn't want to interrupt straight away, so left it for a few seconds, taking in every feature of her girlfriend's face. She really was breathtaking, especially first thing in the morning which was no easy thing for anyone but Allie always managed it with such ease.

"You look so beautiful in the mornings," Bea thought out loud, reaching across to tuck some blonde locks of hair behind the younger woman's ear.

"Just in the mornings?" She feigned offence, giggling when her girlfriend tried to quickly backtrack on what she meant. "I'm joking baby,"

"How long have you been up?"

"Not long, I wanted to leave you sleeping for as long as possible,"

"Thank you. Can I do you some breakfast? I can make up some pancakes for you and Deb, once she gets her lazy arse out of bed that is,"

"Sounds great. Franky said last night that she'd take me over to the flat later, so I can pick up some things and bring them here. There's not a lot really, I don't want to totally take over here,"

"Hey, this is as much your home as it is mine now," Bea explained. "You can bring as much as you want,"

"Thank you but there's not much I need really. All that's important is right here already anyway," she replied, sharing an equally beaming smile with the redhead. "I still can't believe this is going to be my home, my home with you,"

"I get all tingly when you say it out loud,"

"You... Are... So... Soppy... And... Cute," the blonde said between kisses, smiling against the softness of her girlfriend's lips. Things quickly went a little further than planned and before it carried on, Allie drew back and caught her breath. Her injuries were still pretty raw and Bea was wary of hurting the younger blonde, so since the attack they had tried and at times struggled to keep their hands to themselves. "So, I believe you promised me breakfast,"

"I did indeed, let's go then beautiful girl,"

Later that afternoon, after dropping Bridget off at her appointment in town, Franky made her way over to Bea's via a quick stop over at the salon to catch up with Maxine. Knowing just how much her best friend and the blonde were going through, the tattooed brunette wanted to lend a hand wherever possible and had discussed with Allie on how to try and lift the redhead's spirits. Admittedly, with everything going on that wasn't going to be the easiest thing in the world but she had come up with the idea of helping Allie move her possessions from the flat as soon as possible. Having Allie officially moved in and settled was the one thing that the older woman had been looking forward to.

Parking up the car on the drive, she barely entered the house when Allie appeared, insisting the sooner they go, the sooner they'd be back. She wasn't completely comfortable about leaving Bea at home even with Debbie there too but the redhead insisted she'd be fine for an hour or so and assured her girlfriend out the door.

"You alright blondie?" Franky asked, wandering back into the front room of Allie's flat, where she stood over a couple of boxes, staring across by the window. "You haven't spoken much, it's not like you. Nothing more has happened has it?"

"What?" She snapped back to the present, turning to face the brunette. "No. No, nothing more has happened. There has been no trace, no sign of him. It's just a lot to deal with, I know how much stress it's putting on Bea and I feel so useless,"

"You aren't useless ya stupid sod," she added, the blonde giggling slightly. "That's the last thing Bea thinks, alright? You're great for her, the best actually so I don't want to hear anymore silly chat, ok?"

"Yeah ok,"

"Good. Now we can get on to a really important matter," she smirked, dropping the set of bright pink fluffy handcuffs in front of their faces. "I found them at the back of your drawer. Something you want to tell me?"

"They were a mock present a few years ago," she answered, rolling her eyes. Trust Franky, of all people, to come across them. "And no, I have never used them before you even ask,"

"Ah come on, now you're just disappointing me Novak,"

"Piss off,"

"So, question is... Rubbish bag or in your bag to take home?" Wiggling her eyebrows, she grinned rather mischievously. Deciding to have a little fun of her own, Allie took them from her friend and slipped them into her bag before zipping it shut. "I fucking knew it, you little minx. Red is going to be so stoked when she sees them,"

"You are aware that's your very best friend you're talking about, right?"

"She's heard me say worse, a lot worse,"

"I'm sure she has. I'm telling you, I've no idea how Bridget puts up with you,"

"My irresistible charm and hot body obviously,"

"Sure. She has the patience of a saint," Allie chuckled, throwing an empty bag in the tattooed brunette's direction, the other woman catching it impressively. "There's some things in the bathroom, if you wouldn't mind packing them up for me,"

"Yeah, no worries,"

"This room looks massive without all my things," she realised, glancing across the front room. She really loved this was the first time she ever felt at home and at ease anywhere but the reason she was leaving it all behind was a really good one.

"Do you want me to give you a minute?"

"Nah, it's alright. I want to go home," she finished, a smile curving her lips. "It feels so good saying that,"

"It sounds really good too,"

With Allie off to collect her things from the flat with Franky's help, Bea grabbed her pencils and sketchbook before she settled in the er starting a new piece on a fresh sheet, she paid close attention to the pencil tracing over the white canvas before the loud ringing from the phone snapped her out of her artistic thoughts. Placing the book down, she reached across, pulling the phone to her ear. The voice on the other end didn't come, so after a few seconds, Bea shrugged and placed the phone back. She barely had time to pick up her sketchbook before the phone rang again. The same thing happened again, so when the phone dared to ring for a third time, the redhead's anger shone through.

"Whoever this is, you've clearly got the wrong number so stop calling every two fucking minutes," she cursed aloud, her frustrations getting the better of her. "Please don't call this number again,"

"And where would be the fun in that?" The voice came through the line, sending an immediate chill through Bea's body. She reached across, steadying herself against the dining room table, certain that if she didn't she would have more than likely have been on her arse right now. No matter how long it had been, she'd never forget how the tone of his voice made her shudder with fear. "It's not very nice of you to hang up on me is it? I would say it would be extremely wise of you not to make the same mistake again,"

"Drop dead Harry, whatever you've got to say, I don't want to hear it,"

"I have your friend here, the hot tattooed one," he said, Bea not having the time to register what was being said before he spoke again. "Oh and how could I forget your cheap, little blonde slut?"

"You're fucking lying," Bea gritted her teeth, her fist clenching tight on her knee.

"See that's the thing Bea, I'm really not," he spoke. "I followed the pair of them across town, Franky playing cab driver, it looked real cosy,"

"This has nothing to do with them," Bea stressed, attempting to keep her voice as thick and straight as possible. As much as she wanted to scream, yell every single feeling and thought that entered her head she didn't. She was still trying to suss out whether or not he was telling the truth. "This is between me and you, it's not about Allie or Franky,"

"It's about whatever I say it's about," he growled aggressively, his tone of voice sending a shudder through the redhead's body. "I hold the cards Bea, remember that, I always hold all the cards,"

"What is it you want?"

"To see Debbie,"

"That's not going to happen, no way," she replied straight away, there was no way she was going to put her daughter in the firing line and she was quite certain the young brunette wouldn't want to be anywhere near him anyway. "She's not even here anyway,"

"Don't fucking lie to me, you bitch. Do you want me to hurt them because that's exactly what's going to happen," his voice grew louder, his aggression lacing his accent more and more. "I'd start with that little blonde whore of yours,"

"Don't you dare talk about her like that,"

"I've got to hand it to you, Bea... She's fuckable,"

"If you touch her, I swear to god," She choked, her breath hitching in her throat at the thought of her girlfriend being anywhere near him. "I will fucking kill you,"

"Do you reckon?" He laughed that unbearable laugh she recalled from years hated it now just as much as she did back then. Smug bastard.

"Tell me where you are,"

"Do you think I'm an idiot? That's not how this is going to work,"

"Debbie won't want to see you, you know this Harry,"

"I'm not talking about Deb. I'm talking about you," he added, the phone line going quiet for a few seconds longer than Bea liked. "Any funny business, any police and you won't see your blonde princess again, you understand? Bea, do you understand?"

"Yes, yes I get it. Now please, tell me where you are,"