Author's Note: Emmerdale's gone totally nuts with Gabby's character these last few weeks, haven't they? I'm just going to have to carry on writing her as she was prior to this, if Liam and Bernice never broke up. I doubt she would be like this anyway.

Chapter One Hundred and Five

Leanna and Noah walked back home together after school. She had come back with him to the village, she had complained all the way there about how much it sucks. His problems outweighed hers though he thought (not like he would ever tell her). The two of them were just going to spend an hour or so together before she had to go back to Henrietta's. The girl had her arm locked in his when they spotted Gabby and Bernice walking together with Diane. This was the first time Bernice laid eyes on Leanna since the last break-up and the reveal last year.

"Oh God" Leanna muttered under her breath as she broke her arm away from Noah. She didn't feel up for this.

She knew it was going to happen, just not this soon. She and Noah were just planning on hanging out at the cricket pavilion. Though it was a bit too late for that as the three of them had spotted her too and walked over. Gabby giving a small wave, she was clearly very happy with the arrangement.

"Leanna...Don't look so worried" Bernice began.

"I'm not worried. I just don't want to do this today" Leanna admitted.

Noah excusing himself as he told her he will see her another day. Leanna giving a sigh as she reluctantly let him go. He clearly didn't want to get in the way of this little reunion. Silence followed slightly, it seems Leanna was still mad over how it all ended. She was seconds away from just bucking it back to the bus and going.

"Do what? We want only want a chat...I am going to take your dad back, Leanna" Bernice admitted, thinking that might soften her attitude.

"Lucky him" Leanna mumbled with sarcasm.

Diane and Gabby looked at each other slightly. It seems she still had some problems with it, speaking to Gabby was easy as she was her friend (or at least use to be) but seeing Bernice was not easy. Her concerns were brought back to light once again as she was reminded of what happened at the end and Bernice's history.

"I thought you were okay with it" Gabby spoke up in confusion.

"I was but then I look at her and remember what she's like. I don't want to argue all the time, I'm just worried she's not up to the job" Leanna replied in a shaky tone of voice.

"That's just rubbish"

"Is it? My mum is not a bad person and anyway, you're living with Maya's mum and you don't seem to have a problem with her, do ya? So this is clearly just to get back at my mum for whatever reason"

"Gabby" Bernice quickly spoke up as she didn't want her to say anything that might ruin her chances.

Though Gabby didn't take the hint, she really was befuddled by Leanna's attitude. The truth was that Leanna didn't think Bernice would stay very long anyway. She didn't believe that they could all live together again like what they use to do.

"No, it's true...You're fine with Henrietta so what gives?" Gabby asked.

"Maybe because Henrietta doesn't run away at the first sign of trouble. Just because her daughter was a mess, doesn't mean she is" Leanna answered with her arms crossed.

"I'm not going to run away" Bernice tried to convince her. She really had no intention of doing such a thing.

"Really?" Leanna questioned with doubt.

"Really. You know me, Leanna. I only went away because I heard something unexpected and Dee Dee really needed me. You have to understand that, I'm not going to that again"

"Alright but one chance, yeah?"

"Yes. One chance. I accept that" Bernice answered quickly.

She didn't even have to think about it. She wanted to work things out with Liam so much and just wanted things to back to how they were. If that means having to prove herself to Leanna again then so be it.

...

Meena walked into 'David's Shop' for the date. He had ordered a mozzarella pizza to share with a bottle of white wine. He was nervous though, this was his first date since Maya. So he was naturally on edge a bit. David greeted Meena with a small smile as he invited her to sit down on the table he set up. He didn't know what food she liked so he ordered rather plain food however he made the small set-up nice enough.

"I hope you like mozzarella and white wine" David spoke up as he remained standing at the side. He was acting like he's never been on a date before.

"Yeah. I like it...You can sit down, I'm not going to bite. At least not on the first date" Meena teased.

Though he didn't even crack a smile as he just apologised and sat down across from her. Pouring the wine into the two glasses. Meena really was trying her hardest to make him relax but he was so cold and reserved. She didn't know whether bringing up his past would make him clam up or if he needed somebody to talk openly about it.

"You look lovely by the way. Your hair's really nice" David remarked; finally showing a bit of his old self.

"Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself...Though your taste in food is something to be desired" Meena replied with her usual teasing smile.

"Sorry"

"You don't have to keep saying sorry, just relax. Look, I do understand why you're a bit on edge but just know I do know about what happened to you. Also know that I'm not her and I hate people like her"

This made him look up again. Meena did know then. In a way, David was relieved. That was one conversation he didn't want to have. Though since she already knew everything, he didn't have to break the awful old news.

"Who told you?" David asked her.

"Priya but she only told me because she knows how much you hate talking about it. I totally understand and I really don't want it to ruin our date" Meena answered him honestly.

He just nodded, he thought as much and he wasn't going to hate Priya over it. She only did it because she thought it was best. The fact though that Meena didn't mind seemed to make him weary. Despite everything she said, he found it so difficult to trust new people. Meena was very forward too.

"It makes me sick thinking about it. I was so stupid not to see her for what she was" David lamented, putting the mood right down.

"Bad people are good liars, David. Don't go beating yourself up over it"

"I'm surprised you're here. Most women would run a mile if they heard what you heard and I wouldn't blame them"

"David. Nobody has a perfect past, okay? I'm here because I met you and I think you are really sweet. I'm not going to let some sick woman who I never even met ruin our chances, that is no way to live"

David gave a shrug.

"You think I'm sweet?" David suddenly asked after a few moments of silence.

"Yes. So can I finally speak to you about you and not somebody you have nothing to do with?"

"Yeah. Sorry...I mean, yeah; I would like that. Thanks for being so understanding and I hope I haven't scared you off"

"It takes a lot to scare me off"

...

"You must be joking, I'm not paying a penny to that man's funeral" Henrietta was telling her sister (and she really was telling).

She was on the phone to her and she could barely believe what Georgina was asking. What world is she living in?

"Oh yes you are. It's the least you can do after what John did" Georgina insisted.

"I'm not paying for the funeral of the man who abused my daughter, Georgina. Don't be so stupid. I would rather flush money down the drain than do that"

"You're the one who's stupid. My heart is breaking and you won't even bother helping me my own son's funeral arrangement. How cruel could you get? I might have to dip into nan's money at this rate"

"Excuse me?"

"Well I got hardly any money of my own. I was living with a friend down in Scarborough, you know. I've not got a penny to my name. Had to spend the last bit of money I had to return to England, didn't I?"

"Georgina. You laughed at me down the phone when you heard my daughter died. Do you really think I'm going to fall for your sob story now? You are an evil woman and I won't nothing to do with you anymore"

This made Georgina go silent for a few moments. She wiped away her crocodile tears as she briefly looked at Rosa (who was watching television). Georgina had to pull out the only card she had left to play.

"You won't see my nan again if you don't pay up, mark my words" Georgina stated.

"You're seriously going to stop me seeing Rosa?"

"Yeah I am. It's her great-grandson too, you know. She doesn't like I'm going on my own and I can't wait to tell her what a horrid witch you are for not helping me pay for it. I don't want to but I will dig into nan's money for it" Georgina warned.

"So you're happy to steal from your own nan?"

"I'm desperate, aren't I?"

"You really are evil, Georgina. What I did to deserve you as a sister, only God knows. My mum must have been mad taking you in! I wish dad left you behind and never brought you to the house. You would be in care if not for my mother taking pity on you when you were a baby"

"Not my fault your mother was a push-over. It be must be hard knowing she held me in her arms before you"

"Just send me the bill, Georgina and we will not have to speak again" Henrietta relented.

She was doing this for Rosa's sake. No way was she going to let Georgina take her money, nor would she want to stop seeing her because she knew Georgina meant it. If she didn't pay up, she wouldn't see Rosa again and that was too much for her to bear. She lost so many people in her life already.

...

TBC