AUTHORS NOTE: This is quite a long chapter but it catches up with an old friend of Eva's who a number of people have messaged me about, asking what happened to him after Eva left the estate and also what his story was. So, after having thought about it I changed a few things and jiggled things around and decided that this was the best place to put what I had written. I hope I have come up with something suitable for him, as I don't normally change the story significantly once it is down, but this particular character seems to have struck a chord with a number of people so just this once I made an exception and added something after the story was complete to give what was a background character a bit more of a role.

CHAPTER 48

(EVA)

One week later…

We are now settled into a routine. Lily is a good baby, she is content and her sleep pattern is pretty damn good. I really couldn't ask for anything more. She has her last feed about 11.30 at night and then she wakes again about 2.30/3.30am and then she sleeps until about 7.30. This means I am getting a reasonable night's sleep and with Gideon's help and insistence at doing his fair share of the feeds some nights I am getting a full night. I feel as though this is all way too easy.

I remember back when Maisie was a baby, she was a fretful baby who woke up every couple of hours or so, and that was when I finally managed to get her down. I was also dealing with Nathan who wasn't helpful in the least and who complained if his sleep pattern was disturbed. I realise now it was my own anxiety which I was projecting on to Maisie and she was picking up on which probably made things worse. This time around I am happy, settled and I am secure in the knowledge I have the complete support and love of Gideon and it has made a huge difference.

I burp Lily and look at the clock, it is nearly 3am. It was my turn to do the night feed tonight and when it is my turn, I don't bother with the bottles I have set up in the fridge and I feed Lily straight from my breast, leaving the bottles for Gideon's shift. I sit there with the TV on but I am barely paying any attention to it. I sit cradling my daughter and I look at her closely.

In just a week her features have altered and she really is a carbon copy of Gideon. She is going to be stunning as she grows up. I am so thankful that Maisie looks so like me although she does have Nathan's brown eyes, but that is the only thing she inherited from him.

I take a moment to look around me. This beautiful house, the rings on my finger which announce to the world that I am a married woman. The car which I can drive sitting in the driveway, the clothes I am wearing and even the food I now eat is all a million miles away from when I was doing this the last time. Then I was cooped up in a flat, with shabby second hand furniture and living hand to mouth, afraid and not knowing if and when Nathan was going to kick off. I feel like I am really am living the dream now and I sometimes have to pinch myself to realise this really is all real.

We are going to the depot tomorrow... Or should I say later today. Gideon wants to show Lily off and I have to admit I want to go as well for very different reasons. Since I spoke to Kelv at the depot and then that moment outside grans when Gaz Price appeared, I haven't been able to get Nathan out of my head. I need to know what has happened to him for my own peace of mind. I can't understand why I am feeling like this as the big part of me really doesn't give a shit about him or what has happened and is shouting at me saying that he is out of my life now so stop thinking about it and let it go. But I can't help it, there is still that small niggle in my head and I know I won't rest until I know for sure what has happened or more importantly what he is up to. I haven't spoken to anyone about it as I know what they will say. They will tell me to stop being so stupid and to forget about him as he is a part of my past and logically, I know that… but… what I can't understand is why he still seems to have this hold over me. I fucking hate him for everything he did. I realise in a rush it is probably down to fear, the first thing he did when he was released was come and cause trouble and beat me to a pulp. If he is pissed off that I have so comprehensively moved on he will want to try and do something to destroy that. I believe that is the underlying feeling I have, not anything compassionate for him as I really don't have any compassion in me for him.

I look down and see Lily is now fast asleep again and so I stand up, switch off the TV and head back upstairs to bed.

oooOOOooo

I open my eyes and look around; the bed is empty and I hear voices downstairs. I get up, wrap my dressing gown around me and go downstairs. As I walk into the kitchen to see Maisie sitting at the table eating her breakfast while Gideon is sitting with a mug of coffee in front of him along with a half-drunk bottle of milk. Lily is asleep on his chest and he is holding her protectively whilst talking to Maisie.

"Good morning" I say as I take in the sight in front of me.

"Good morning mummy" Maisie says with a smile.

I look at Gideon who smiles up at me, and I lean down and press a small kiss to his waiting lips.

"Good morning Angel, as you can see everything is under control. I didn't expect you to be up yet. I was going to leave you sleeping while I took Maisie to school and then I would wake you when I got back so we could go to the depot" he says.

I head to the coffee machine and pour myself a generous mug full, and I moan as I drink it. I am so happy I can drink proper caffeinated coffee again.

"Have you eaten?" I ask Gideon as I pull the bread from the breadbin and pull the toaster towards me.

"Yes, I had some toast earlier" he replies, I nod and push some bread into the toaster as I do so I watch as he stands up.

"I'm just going to change Lily and then I'll take Maisie to school he says and I nod. Maisie finishes her breakfast and I look at her. She is dressed and her hair is neatly plaited. I smile as I see it, it had taken some coaching before Gideon had finally managed to master how to do it but now he plaits hair like a pro! I see Maisie's schoolbag all ready to go sitting waiting on the nearby chair. I can't help it but I look inside and sure enough her lunch, her reading book and words are all in there.

Everything is done and I suddenly feel a little bit like a spare part. For some reason this upsets me, and I feel a little bit tearful. I have no idea why and I know I shouldn't be feeling like this. I have a wonderful husband who is totally taking care of everything for me but instead of feeling grateful and happy to have the support I feel like I am being pushed out, as though I am not needed. I butter my toast and sit down at the table trying to push the negativity from my mind. I wipe my eyes and try to stop the tears which are now insistently falling.

Maisie rushes in and wraps her arms around me. "We are going now, bye mummy" she says and before I can say a word, she has let me go, grabbed her bag and run from the room. Gideon strolls in with Lily in the car seat and he pauses as he takes me in.

"Angel? Angel what is it? What's wrong?" he asks his voice full of concern and that concern pushes me over the edge and the dam breaks and I just start to sob.

I shake my head, "Nothing, I'm fine" I say in between sobs.

Gideon looks torn, he knows he has to take Maisie to school but I can tell he doesn't want to leave me.

I wipe my eyes and offer him a weak smile, "I'm fine honestly" I say. He nods at me but doesn't look convinced. He crouches down beside me and rests his hand on my arm.

"I'll be as quick as I can" he says and he leans in and presses a small kiss to my damp cheek and squeezes my arm. I nod and mutter a quiet ok. He hesitates a moment longer then he stands and after I reassure him again that I am fine he leaves the house. As I hear the front door close I break down once more and sob into my coffee and toast.

When I have finished my breakfast, I go upstairs to take a shower and get dressed. A short while later I hear the front door open and Gideon walks in carrying Lily in her car seat. He looks at me anxiously and I give him a smile. I am now dressed, ready and waiting for my husband and I have managed to pull myself together now and am feeling suitably embarrassed about my mini breakdown. I stand up and walk over to Gideon and wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head against his chest. He places the car seat on the table and holds me. I close my eyes at the feel of his body against mine and I begin to feel better.

"Talk to me Angel?" he asks and I can hear the worry in the tone of his voice.

"I'm sorry" I begin and then I stop.

Gideon immediately tells me that I have nothing to be sorry about, but he also tells me that I have to talk to him and tell him what's going through my mind.

I let out a deep sigh, and I feel Gideon's arms tighten around me. How do I tell him? How do I tell this wonderful man who has bent over backwards to make my life a million times better that I'm sulking because he had everything under control this morning? It sounds as ridiculous as it really was. But I know I have to say something as he is worried about me and I won't have him worrying about me… not for something as stupid as this.

"I was just being silly, I came down and everything was sorted. Maisie was ready for school, her bag was ready, she was ready. You had also fed and changed Lily, given Maisie her breakfast and I just felt…" I stop speaking again and shake my head, which is down as I am unable to meet his gaze.

I feel him lift my chin with his finger and I find myself forced to look up at him and I swallow hard as I see the love and compassion in his eyes.

"You felt pushed out" he says gently and I nod.

He smiles and nods, and I quickly continue to reassure him. "I know it's silly, and I should be happy that I have you taking so much on, and that I don't have to micromanage every last minute now but the fact I came down and it was all done and dusted I just felt a bit… useless". I stop and wait.

I feel Gideon tighten his hold on me, "Never ever think that. You did the middle of the night feed last night so I just wanted you to sleep in and get your rest. You are far from useless. I know it's hard for you as for years you have always dealt with everything alone especially when it comes to Maisie, and I probably have compounded that by taking a step back and letting you continue to make the majority of the decisions regarding her. But we have been married nearly a year now and you really need to realise that you can take a step back and I will pick up the slack".

I smile up at him and nod, "I know that, logically I know that… just telling my baby brain and the post-natal hormones running riot through me at the moment is another matter though. I'm sorry about my meltdown though" I say.

Gideon shakes his head, "Stop apologising, you have nothing to be sorry for" he says and I feel him press a small sweet kiss to the top of my head. He continues to just hold me and the sense of wellbeing I get from just being in his arms is astounding.

I close my eyes and savour the moment only opening them when he speaks again.

"Do you know what day it is today?" he asks me after a moments silence. I pause and think for a moment wondering if I have forgotten something and I shake my head.

"Apart from it being a Tuesday… no… I have no idea?" I say.

Gideon smiles widely, "Today is the date we first met, the day I wasn't watching where I was going and walked into you at the depot and you told me to watch where I was fucking going" he says.

My mouth drops open, and I turn to look up at him in surprise, is it really a whole year since that fateful day? "It's not?" I ask incredulously.

As I look up at Gideon I see he is grinning widely, and he nods at me. "It is… I had to stop and look twice. I made a note of the date, as it was so monumental in changing my life forever".

I shake my head in disbelief, "A whole year since you were a clumsy arse!" I say and Gideon lets out a small laugh.

"And what a year. I don't know about you Angel but this last year has been the best of my life" he says and he looks at me with such love I feel the tears starting to well up again. I swallow hard and nod.

"Same" I say simply.

oooOOOooo

When we arrive at the depot we are greeted by everyone eager to see Lily. It reminds me of when we first left the hospital and arrived at Grans as we can barely get in the door.

"Fucking hell, can we at least get in the door!" I say and there is a ripple of laughter.

We are led to the picking area where everyone is waiting. George has a huge grin on his face and he is holding a massive bouquet of flowers and what looks like a card. Kelvin stands at his side with a box which is wrapped in pink paper.

"We all had a whip-round, we got you a few bits and these flowers and everyone signed this card" George says as he thrusts the flowers and card towards me.

"Thanks guys" I say sincerely. I am genuinely touched by this as I have always just been one of the guys in here.

"Well are you going to open it?" Rav shouts and I grin at him.

"Well I'd better or you'll be using it as an excuse to just stand there all day and do fuck all!" I shout back.

There is another ripple of laughter and I carefully open the box and look inside. All the guys are watching me with slightly anxious expressions but I am blown away by what I see.

"Wow, thanks guys this is really thoughtful… I am genuinely touched" I say.

Gideon looks in the box and his eyes widen as he takes it in. Inside is everything a new born baby needs. There is a pack of nappies, a load of different toiletries, some sleepsuits, a pack of bibs and even a blanket.

"Thank you so much for this" Gideon says and there is a chorus of we are welcome and it's ok. I watch the guys crowd around the car seat and turn to mush over Lily. They are cooing over her and telling us how beautiful she is.

Gideon eventually wants to go and show Lily off to the offices upstairs. I glance at Kelv and realise that this is my chance to have a word.

"I'll be up in a moment I just want to catch up on the gossip" I say and Gideon grins at me before leaving the picking area with Lily.

I turn towards Kelvin and he steps towards me. "I got an unexpected visit from Gaz Price last week" I say and Kelvin nods.

"Yeah, I know, he told me. I decided to call the prison and spoke to someone who is dealing with Nathan. I'm still down as his next of kin so they told me everything. He's ok, as far as it goes. From what they told me it seems that when he got the letter from your solicitor about the adoption going through he kicked off, trashed his cell and lashed out at some of the screws".

I roll my eyes at that, as that doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

"But, after he calmed down, he seemed to slip into what could only be described as a depression and he was even put on suicide watch for a while, which tallies with what Gaz said. They asked me if they could tell him I'd called and I said yes and he called me the other day. He asked about you. I told him you were married and that you'd had another baby and that you were really happy. I told him that Gideon was the best thing for you and for Maisie… he didn't like that, he got angry… you should know, he is trying to appeal his sentence. He only got four years in total so he served two and that's not including the time he served when he was on remand and it's now a year since he was released…briefly, so I think we are looking at just over another year and he'll be out again and from what he said… he is going to ignore the solicitors warning".

I freeze at Kelvins words, "Oh for fucks sake" I say and I shake my head.

Kelvin touches my arm, "I know, I told him not to be so stupid. I told him to just let you go and get over it, but it's like he is obsessed with you. I told him that if he tried anything that there is a lot of people who are just itching to give him a taste of his own medicine and he would end up getting hurt, but he didn't listen to me… so I thought I'd give you fair warning. I'll keep you updated as to what happens and if for some reason he does get out early, I'll let you know… even though they will have to tell you as well".

I snort at that, "Not that they did last time" I say bitterly. I sigh, "Thanks for telling me Kelv" I say now resigned to the fact that no matter how hard I try it seems I will never be free of Nathan Barker.

I leave the picking area with my head swirling with all the information which Kelvin told me. I make my way up to Gideon's office and find him chatting with Martin. Martin is holding Lily and cradling her in his arms. They both look at me as I walk in and once again my over active hormones and emotions get the better of me and I just burst into tears for the second time this morning.

Gideon immediately walks towards me and pulls me into his arms, "What is it?" he asks as I sob into his shirt.

"Nathan" I sob and I feel Gideon stiffen.

"Come and sit down" Gideon says gently and pulls me towards a chair and he crouches in front of me, taking my hands and looks at me carefully. "Ok what about him?" he asks.

I open up and tell him everything Kelv said. I also spill how I couldn't get him out of my head after seeing Gaz and how I just want to be rid of him once and for all and that I don't want him coming out of prison and doing something which ruins everything we have built. I sit and it all comes tumbling out. I just want to rid myself of everything to do with Nathan fucking Barker and get him out of my head once and for all.

Gideon wraps his arm around me and holds me, he doesn't say anything but he just holds me until he is sure I have finished rambling and crying.

"Ok is that everything?" he asks after I have been silent for a few moments and I nod.

"Ok… Eva look at me" he says. I lift my head and look up into his beautiful blue eyes which at this moment are hard and filled with protective anger. "Nathan Barker will not hurt you again. He will not come anywhere near you and he will not come anywhere near Maisie. I am Maisie's father now and I will protect her and I will also protect you. I promise you he will not hurt you again… do you believe me?" he says earnestly.

I wonder what he will do, but the way he said that, so emphatically I do believe him. I believe he will do everything he can possibly do to protect me and Maisie from Nathan. So, I sniff loudly and I nod.

"Yes… I believe you" I say in a small voice.

Gideon nods, "Good, because I'm telling you now, I won't allow him to hurt you again" he says.

(GIDEON)

I am furious, not at Kelvin as I know he told Eva what he did in good faith as a warning and I'm glad he did. But I'm furious that, that piece of shit still has such a hold over my wife. I pause as I think about it. I shouldn't be surprised as I am equally fucked up over Uncle Hugh and while I am secure in the knowledge I will never have to lay eyes on him again, Eva doesn't have that with Nathan as we both know that he will be released one day and I just want Eva to have the same piece of mind that she will never have to deal with Nathan Barker again.

I am also beginning to realise that to achieve this I am going to have to operate outside the law. We have tried to go by the book but it appears we will have to play Nathan Barker at his own game. I have been talking to Tez and Vic about this issue, after the interaction with Gaz last week and they told me to let them know if I found anything else out. I am secure in the knowledge that there are a hell of a lot of people who would happily beat Barker to a pulp and not think twice about it for what he has done, but I fear we need to think of something drastic… more permanent. That obviously involves a significant amount of risk for all concerned. However, I believe it is a risk worth taking for Eva and Maisie's piece of mind.

We have time though; Charles has been keeping an eye on proceedings and we know that Barker has at least another year in prison. So that gives us plenty of time. At this moment my priority is Eva. This has obviously rattled her and in her current state of mind she doesn't need this.

Martin looks at me sympathetically and I smile at him, "I think I'm going to take Eva home" I say and he nods and carefully places Lily back into her car seat.

Eva starts gathering her things together and I can see she has calmed down now and as she is preoccupied and not paying attention to me. I pull out my phone and send a text to Tez and Vic, it's short and to the point but also suitably vague.

Need to discuss our mutual friend

I quickly get a response from Vic, No problem, talk to you soon

I don't get a response from Tez and I realise he must be at work, but it doesn't matter as I know he will respond as soon as he is able to.

I look at Eva once more, "Are you ready Angel?" I ask gently and she smiles and nods at me.

"I am… and I'm sorry" she mutters.

I roll my eyes, and sigh in exasperation as she really needs to stop apologising for everything. "It's fine Angel, you have nothing to be sorry for" I say.

I pick up the car seat and wrap my arm around Eva, "Come on Angel lets go home" I say.

The rest of the day passes without incident. I am keeping a close eye on Eva whilst pretending I'm not and she seems fine now. As expected Tez called me when he got the chance to and I quickly outlined what we have been told about Nathan.

My mind goes back to the conversation earlier with Tez…

"Hey Gideon it's Tez. I got your text… I'm assuming you were referring to Barker?" he says vaguely.

"I was" I say and I quickly outline what Kelvin told Eva and Tez listens without comment.

"Well, I'm not having that" he says when I have finished.

"I know" I say, "I have promised Eva I will protect her and Maisie, and that wasn't an empty promise. I have never broken any of my promises to either of them and I don't intend to start now". I hesitate a moment before saying what is really on my mind. "We need to do something which gets him out of their lives permanently".

The silence spreads out between us and I know Tez understands what I am intimating.

"I agree… but we need to be careful so that nothing comes back on us" Tez says.

"I know" I say.

I wait as I hear Tez sigh, "Let me think about things and I'll get back to you, have you spoken to Vic?" he asks.

"I text him with the same message I sent you and he replied but I've not actually spoken to him in person" I say.

"Ok leave it with me" Tez says.

We say our goodbyes and I end the call…

"Gideon"

I look up and see Eva walking towards me with Lily in her arms. She sits down beside me and snuggles up close to me. I wrap my arm around her and I press a kiss to her head.

"Are you ok now Angel?" I ask warily and she looks up at me and smiles.

"Yes… I am completely embarrassed about my series of meltdowns today" she begins but I stop her before she even thinks about apologising again.

"Stop it, it was a totally reasonable response. Both of them" I say and I squeeze her gently. She leans against me and rests her head on me.

"What do you think he will try and do?" she asks quietly after a moments silence.

I sigh, I knew that she was still thinking about this, despite her assurances that she wasn't.

"I don't know Angel, but we are aware. At this moment we have to focus on the fact he can't do anything. He is in prison for the foreseeable future and we know what his intentions are when he is eventually released. So, having said all that we have the advantage" I say.

Eva thinks about that and nods. "I just don't want him anywhere near Maisie. She has been a totally different little girl since you came into her life, I can deal with anything he does to me, but I don't want him near her".

I nod "But hopefully he won't even get chance to get anywhere near you. I promise you Eva, he won't hurt Maisie and he won't hurt you" I say firmly.

oooOOOooo

The next day…

(EVA)

After my meltdown yesterday I am determined not to act stupidly today and pull myself together. Gideon did the middle of the night shift last night so this morning he is still sleeping peacefully and I am in charge of getting everything sorted out. I bath, feed and change Lily and get Maisie's schoolbag ready and as I am doing so I smile. I am in charge again and I realise that maybe I might be a little bit of a control freak and the fact that control was taken away from me yesterday was what caused the meltdown.

As I consider that Maisie appears and sits down at the table. I push her breakfast towards her and place a glass of milk down for her and she thanks me before tucking in.

"Is daddy still asleep?" she asks after a moment and I nod.

"Yes, he was up in the night with Lily so I am letting him sleep in" I say and Maisie nods.

"Why does Lily wake up in the night, I don't wake up hungry in the night?" she says curiously as she glances at her little sister.

I smile, "She is a little baby and all she can have at the moment is milk. Because she is so little, she can only have a little bit of milk at a time so she quickly digests that and becomes hungry again quicker than we would, which is why she wakes up in the night. You did it when you were a baby too, but as she grows she will eventually sleep through the night and become like us" I explain.

"When will she eat proper food like us?" Maisie asks.

I smile at her again, "Not for a while yet" I say simply as I don't want to get into a debate about the recommended ages for when to start weaning babies.

As we are getting ready to leave, Gideon appears in his pyjamas, his hair is all over the place as he shambles into the kitchen. He sits down and I place a mug of coffee in front of him and press a kiss to his head. "Good morning" I say and he grins up at me.

"Mornin' Angel" he mumbles as he reaches for the coffee.

"We are just going now so I'll see you shortly" I say.

Gideon nods and glances at the car seat, "Why don't you leave Lily here? I'm awake now" he says and I hesitate but then nod in agreement.

"Ok" I say and with that I grab my keys and after Maisie has given Gideon a good morning hug and kiss I shepherd her out of the house and to the car.

After I have dropped Maisie off at school I hesitate, do I go straight home or do I do what I have been meaning to do for a while? I feel so bad I haven't done this since I moved and now seems to be the perfect opportunity. I'm not sure why I suddenly feel the urge to do this now. Whether it is because of the fact Nathan was at the forefront of my mind for most of yesterday which reminded me of my former life here on Primrose Hill or whether it is something else but I take a deep breath and decide there and then that I am going to do this.

I climb into my car and instead of turning right to go home I turn left and make my way to my old flat on the Primrose Hill Estate. I am more than slightly ashamed that I haven't been to see Del since I moved out as he was such a good friend to me and I feel like I have just pushed him out of my life.

As I pull up in the old familiar cul-de-sac I get out of my car and look around. It is early and eerily quiet; I glance around and for the first time I see just how awful this place really is. Since I have been living in a nicer area where there isn't rubbish lying everywhere, broken glass even used drugs needles I had forgotten just how bad it is here. I had never really noticed before; I'd grown up here and so I had taken my surroundings for granted and just assumed that was how it was. I am surprised that I don't see Trev passed out in the vicinity and I pause wondering if he has finally succumbed to the alcohol. I make my way up the familiar concrete staircase towards my old flat. Someone else is living in my old flat now as I see a light on through the glass in the new front door. I smile as I see it, I had a solid front door after what Nathan did. I pause for a moment and then knock on Del's door wondering if I am doing the right thing.

A moment later the door opens and there he is, I feel the tears start to well up as he looks shocked to see me.

"Evie!" he says, "What are you doing here?" he asks.

I smile at him, "I'm doing something I should've done long before now, I've come to see an old friend and to apologise to him for being a bad friend" I say warily.

Del smiles at me kindly and steps aside, "Well you'd better come in then" he says.

I step inside the flat and he closes the door. I walk through into the familiar living room. Del's flat is a mirror image of the one I used to live in next door and I know where I am going. Memories of the times Maisie hid in here threaten to engulf me and I take a deep breath.

"It's a bit of a mess" Del mutters and I smile and it stops the memories from overwhelming me. Del never used to care what his place looked like and I'm not about to start judging him now.

"I'm not the fucking Queen Del and I'm not here to see your house" I say and he grins at me.

I move some magazines and sit down on the battered old sofa. Del sits opposite me and clasps his hands in front of him watching me carefully.

"How's Maisie?" he asks and I smile.

"She's great, I've just dropped her off at school. She's doing really well, they are struggling to keep up with her because she is so smart" I say proudly and Del grins.

"I always knew she was special, I saw she was a sharp little girl right from the start" he says.

I nod, "Gideon and I got married and I have another baby now" I say and Del looks surprised.

"I saw Vic a few months ago and he said you were expecting" he says. I pull out my phone and call up the photographs I have of Lily and Maisie on my phone and show him. he takes my phone from me and looks and he smiles.

"Maisie's grown! The baby is gorgeous, what's her name?" he asks.

"Lily" I say proudly as Del hands me back my phone.

"You have a lovely family Evie, I am so happy for you" he says kindly.

I lower my head and look at my fingers awkwardly, "Thank you… I need to apologise to you" I say carefully.

Del looks at me questioningly and shakes his head.

"What for?" he asks.

I look up at him and I don't see anything other than concern and it is nearly my undoing. I fiddle with the phone in my hand as I work out what I am going to say.

"You were such a good friend to me, you protected me and Maisie. You gave us a sanctuary to run to when Nathan was kicking off. You helped me get the evidence of his abuse which I needed when the police refused to do anything for lack of it and what did I do, as soon as I got the chance of something better than Primrose Hill I ran and never looked back. I totally forgot about the one person who had been so good to me, and that's not right" I say.

Del smiles and shakes his head, "Don't, I was so happy for you. I admit I was worried at first when that guy showed up with his flash Porsche and I worried in case he was another Nathan, but I quickly saw he only wanted what was best for you and for Maisie, so I knew my work was done. I could step back and let you go on to better things. You don't need to worry about me".

I swallow hard at his words, "Oh god Del, don't talk like that. You make it sound as though you are worthless and you really aren't. You make it sound as though I was right to move on and forget about you" I exclaim.

Del smiles sadly, "I did what I could for you and Maisie when you needed me. But I am trapped here just as you were. Difference is you found an escape and I am so happy for you that you managed to take it, your guy… what's his name…?"

"Gideon" I provide quietly.

Del nods, "Yeah Gideon, he could offer you a better life. I knew that you and Maisie would get a life you both deserved and I was happy to see you go" he says.

I look at Del carefully it sounds as though he has just accepted that he will never aspire to anything better and that he doesn't deserve to. In that moment I am ashamed to realise I really don't know anything about him. To me he was just Del, the guy next door who sheltered Maisie when Nathan was kicking off and who was one of the good guys".

"How did you end up here? What's your story?" I ask, blurting out the question which was in the forefront of my mind.

Del smiles sadly. "I was in care all my life; I have no idea who my parents were and I have no idea what my real birthday is or how old I really am. I have a very vague memory of my mum and the day I was abandoned. I was left on the steps of the hospital with a note, which said my name was Derek and would someone please look after me. They said they assumed I was about 3 years old at the time and I was in really bad condition. I was put into the care of Social Services but I was never adopted. I bounced from foster home to foster home and eventually ended up in a care home until I was about sixteen and they said ok, time to go, bye! My Social Worker sorted out this place for me and I've been here ever since".

I listen to his story and I am shocked. I feel even worse now that I so comprehensively dropped him as soon as something better came along for me. I realise he must have felt abandoned all over again when I left but is just too nice to say so. I immediately want to help him as he helped me but I also know how proud and stubborn I was at the thought of 'charity' and so I know I will have to tread carefully.

"I'm sorry, I haven't been back to see you before now" I say and he shakes his head.

"Don't apologise Evie" he says simply.

"Have you ever worked?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"No, because I kept moving about as a kid, you know between foster homes and care I kept moving schools and didn't really settle and never really got any stability and as such my schooling suffered and I left with nothing, but I get by" he says with a sad smile.

"Would you like to work?" I ask carefully.

He stares at me, "I'd love to, but who would employ me? I'm worthless" he says sadly.

I frown at his defeated words and reach for his hand. "Del, you are not fucking worthless! You are my friend and I am going to help you, just as you helped me. You were my knight in shining armour for years when I was living next door. I knew that I had somewhere safe to send Maisie. I knew I could count on you, so now I want to help you… as you helped me" I say firmly.

Del stares at me with wide eyes, "How?" he asks.

"Get showered and dressed" I say firmly and he smiles and nods. A short while later he appears looking much better and I grab his jacket and throw it at him.

"Come with me" I say and he shrugs his jacket on and grabs his keys and follows me out of the flat.

As we reach my car, he looks at it and then at me. "I had nothing Del, I had no qualifications and I was also trapped here, until Gideon came along. I was lucky though as I did have a job. I only had that because Martin Daniels at Cross Industries took a chance on a sixteen-year-old single mum with no qualifications and gave her the chance at a job which on paper she wasn't qualified for" I say.

Del looks at me and I see hope in his eyes, "Are you going to ask him if he will give me a job?" he says carefully almost disbelievingly as if he can't believe this is actually happening to him.

I nod my head, "I'm going to do just that" I say.

Del smiles widely and it transforms his face.

I take Del back to our house and he stares up at it in shock. "It's ok Del" I say simply as he climbs out of the car.

"Evie…" he says, but before he can say anything else the front door opens and Gideon stands there, now showered and fully dressed with Lily in his arms and he grins at me before turning his attention to Del.

"Del! How are you?" he says brightly and he manoeuvres Lily to hold out his hand.

Del accepts it and greets him warmly. I turn to my husband, "Del needs a job and I thought…" I say and I wait.

Gideon nods and steps aside so we can go in. Del's eyes are everywhere and he suddenly looks afraid. He sits down on the edge of the sofa awkwardly but he smiles as his eyes fall on Lily.

"So, this is your little baby?" he says and Gideon grins.

"Yep, just a week old" Gideon says proudly, "Would you like to hold her?" he asks and Del nods and holds out his arms.

"Aww, I remember when Maisie was this size" he says fondly.

"So, what's this all about?" Gideon asks and I quickly jump in.

"I realised that I had been a bad friend…" I begin.

Del looks up and shakes his head adamantly, "No you weren't" he says.

I dismiss the interruption and continue as I tell Gideon how I had decided to put right my appalling lack of consideration and I outline everything that I thought, and how now that I am in a position to do so I want to help Del like he previously helped me. Gideon listens and nods.

"Well, I do have a position at Cross Industries opening up. In fact I have a couple, one in the Picking Department and one in the Post room" he says as he reaches for his phone.

Del looks at him hopefully his eyes shining. I hadn't realised before that he seemed to have a permanent look of defeat in his eyes but now… now that someone is believing in him, he is taking the opportunity with both hands.

Gideon pauses and looks at Del closely, "I do have to ask, you don't have any issues with drugs or alcohol do you?" he says carefully and Del shakes his head adamantly.

"No not at all, I never touch the stuff. Tea total and as for drugs, never… never ever" he says.

Gideon nods and smiles, "I am assuming you are literate and numerate?" he asks carefully and Del nods.

"Oh yeah, I just don't have the qualifications to show for it" he says sadly.

Gideon looks at him and smiles. "Well neither did Eva, but she helped me transform the entire way the depot was run" he says. Del gives me a look of pride and I feel myself flush with embarrassment.

Gideon dials a number and I realise he is calling Martin and I listen as he outlines the situation.

"That's great, thanks Martin. So, if I bring him in we can see where he would be best suited?" he asks and Martin must be responding to that.

After he ends the call we all make our way out and Del climbs into the car with a bewildered look on his face. He watches as I secure the car seat next to him and then climb into the front with Gideon. When we arrive at the depot. Gideon lets me explain to Martin.

"Hey Martin, this is Del. He was my next-door neighbour for years when I lived on Primrose Hill" I say and Martin smiles at Del kindly.

"Oh… so are you the guy who looked out for Evie when she was with that tosser Barker?" he says and Del flushes and nods nervously.

"Ok then let me show you around and we can go through everything, and we can see where you will be best suited to be placed" Martin says kindly.

Del nods nervously and gives me a shot look. I reach out and squeeze his arm.

"You'll be fine, Martin is a good guy. Just be truthful with him he won't judge you" I say.

Del nods and smiles at me, "Thanks for this Evie" he says and I wave my hand dismissively.

Gideon and I wait in Martin's office and a while later Martin and Del return. I see a totally different man in front of me. The thought of having a job and being useful has transformed him. Martin looks impressed and he sits down and pulls out a record of employment form to fill in and opens up the employee files to create one for Del.

"So where will you be working Del?" I ask.

Del looks up at me, "Post room" he says with a grin.

Martin turns and smiles, "He was astoundingly quick on the uptake, he will fit in there well" he said as he tapped on the computer.

Gideon and I sit and watch as all the formalities are observed and eventually Del stands and shakes Martins hand.

"Welcome aboard" he says kindly.

"Thank you for this opportunity, I won't let you down" Del says gratefully.

As we leave the depot Del pauses, "I guess I need to go to the DHSS now, tell them I am now employed and no longer require state assistance" he says and I see the sense of pride he is radiating as he says this.

"Do you need a lift?" Gideon asks but Del shakes his head.

"No, I'll be fine… and thank you for this opportunity and for believing in me. I promise you I won't let you down" he says.