She tasted like chocolate and honeycomb, a taste of sunshine. What a delight. Ada knew it was only a matter of time until Agatha and Hekkity would take the piss out of her relationship with a younger woman and her ex-girlfriend's former student at that. She cheered up at the thought that Amelia would be her support and messaged her. The last she heard was that Amelia had given into temptation and started shagging her boss, Mr Hellibore on a casual basis. Apparently once he'd shaved his natty beard off, he was a lot better looking so that's what did it. That and a pitcher of mojito at the staff party. He was unmarried with no children and no mother left to nag him about when he was going to settle down so he was perfect. Ada hoped that there weren't any photocopies of anyone's bum pinned on the corkboard. She'd heard that people had sex on the photocopiers at a lot of work parties. Someone did it every year and they'd play guess the bum for a month after. According to Amelia, it was a different person each year that fell prey to it. Ada imagined it would be rather uncomfortable.

Her phone buzzed. She looked at the message and groaned at the sender. Her bloody sister was in insatiable need of knowledge about her new relationship. She was fast preferring the company of Hecate's friends which should make her the odd one out but she felt like she fit right in. She'd like to introduce Amelia to them all, they'd all get on well.

'Of course. I am assured that she is nothing like your sister' said Constance.

Dimity shrieked with laughter but Ada didn't take offence.

'Thankfully she is nothing like my sister. She is to me like you are to Hecate. I've often wished she was my twin but we were lucky to grow up together anyway. She's a lot of fun.'

Amelia turned out to be a hit when Ada hosted a sleepover at her house, making sure that Agatha and Hekkity were away that week.

'Stupid woman keeps asking me about your new beau' she grumbled, whiskey in hand. Dimity was charmed by such an irreverent personality and the animals adored her. Imogen kept jumping up onto her lap and begging to play and Morgana sat next to her hand for opportunistic petting.

'You don't like her?' Enquired Constance.

'I have little patience with her nonsense. Good for her that she's doing well but she's a cutthroat bitch and the more shit she's pulled off over the years, the less I like her. Thank goodness you're nothing like her Ada or I would have been rather lonely. She decimated my dolls, do you remember? Snapped the head off Gwen.'

'Gwen?'

'My favourite doll. She covets things that aren't hers. If she ever tries to get her hooks into Hellibore, I might just have to punch the smug off her face.'

They roared with laughter.

'I'm always torn between feeling guilty for wanting to watch that and loyalty towards her' mused Ada.

'She'll sell your soul for nothing. I wouldn't trust her as far as I could throw her.'

'Well that I would like to see. Start weightlifting and maybe that can be my Christmas present' said Ada mischievously. Hecate gasped at the uncharacteristic rudeness from her and the others laughed.

'Sorry, being around Amelia does tend to bring out the worst in me.'

'Nonsense. You didn't need my influence to get tattoos or get drunk at Alma's wake and throw jelly at Agatha.'

They looked at her in astonishment.

'Not my finest moment' Ada mumbled.

'She smushed cake in her face as well' added Amelia with relish. 'Ruined her spiffy skirt suit. Serves her right. Silly cow threw a plate at her.'

'Did she hurt you?' Asked Hecate.

'She caught my arm but no harm done, really. I realise this isn't helping my image, should you have second thoughts about us…'

'Don't worry Hecate, leave Agatha and her horse faced girlfriend to us' said Amelia, pouring another round.

Dimity snorted while Constance and Hecate looked at each other in the knowledge that they were about to disgrace themselves with unseemly laughter. To hear their former chemistry teacher being described in several colourful terms was enough for them to lose all control. Amelia and Ada further entertained them with stories well into the evening and the younger women thought that they'd never been to a better gathering. Amelia was the life and soul of the party and Ada had a few choice words here and there.

'My dear, Ada's last girlfriend was a waste of space.' This was addressed to Hecate.

'I was glad to see the back of her. Unfortunately we won't be able to get rid of her completely as she latched onto her sister instead so unless we push her off a cliff, we might be stuck with her for a long time. I hope Agatha dumps her for a hot young Guatemalan sheep farmer.'

'Amelia!'

'We can dream, can't we? She was no good for you. She tore you down. Just as well Agatha can handle her. That woman has the skin of a rhino. Equally that Broomhead bitch must have developed a will power of steel to date such a lush.'

Constance shot a look at Ada, who had expressed the same sentiment when they'd first met. Ada smiled very slightly. Their laughter woke up the animals.

'She told you that?' Hecate asked her cousin later, just before she went up to bed. She had assumed that she'd sleep downstairs but Amelia had told her that there was no point in wasting a good bed and not to be so old fashioned. She and Ada were dating, it was only natural for them to share the bed.

'But don't get too loud or Imogen will wake up and start howling' warned Dimity.

Hecate blushed.

'We have no intention of doing anything but sleep' she said stiffly. Dimity rolled her eyes at Constance, who shot her back a look while Amelia smirked. Ada looked reprovingly at them all. 'Behave, children.'

As promised, they fell asleep quickly and quietly. Hecate hesitating, feeling awkward about being intimate with other people so near but Ada just pressed her lips to her hand and wished her goodnight. It made Hecate tingle with desire. Recently they'd been sharing the bed once a week, Ada making sure that Hecate was comfortable with her touch and leaving it up to her to decide when she was ready for more.

'Where are the beasts?' Asked Dimity in the morning. They'd camped out in the living room most comfortably. The three of them crept upstairs and knocked on the door. An answering woof greeted them. They peeked in and saw their lazy beasts draped over the sleeping lovers.

'Come on girl, let's go out' encouraged Dimity. Imogen jumped off and padded her way out to the garden, Morgana in tow. Constance and Amelia nodded in appreciation at the couple before tiptoeing downstairs to make breakfast.

'Hecate needs someone that is of a complementary personality and understand the way that she is to be able to handle her accordingly. Ada's perfect for her.'

Amelia nodded her agreement over a cheese scone.

'Ada is so fluffy and soft, I fear for her heart every time someone breaks it. I gather that your dear teacher was a terror at her job.'

Constance gave her a brief overview.

'If she'd stayed that person, Ada would have had no chance. I mean, good for her that she ditched the drink but there's still that dismissive, vaguely cruel streak in her that came out when she was with Ada. With Agatha, she seems milder. I just wish that she'd left Ada out of it but Ada needs to say no to people sometimes. She finds it difficult. Ada needs someone with quiet confidence.'

Constance nodded, sipped her tea.

'Hecate is slowly unfurling, thanks to Ada's influence. She should have been able to do that years ago so this sweetshop has appeared in her life just in time.'

They all agreed that Ada had done a fantastic job with it. Upstairs, the lovers stirred and woke.

'I think we're missing a couple of pets' noted Ada. They had been nice and warm on the feet. When they went downstairs, they found the breakfast table prepared. Hecate and Ada sat opposite each other and looked at each other with delight. It did not go unnoticed.