Another time, perhaps?
A/N- This is a little idea of an AU about Caroline and Kate meeting one summer before Caroline married John. Not sure how long it will be.
"She doesn't want to be cooped up indoors all summer."
"How would you know what she want's" Her mother sniped in reflex.
A disinterested shrug and her father went back to staring out of the large window, probably imagining himself anywhere else. Caroline didn't know why her parent's still insisted on this show of togetherness every time she came home, they weren't fooling anyone, and it only got more difficult to endure with the more time that Caroline spent away, amongst people who didn't loathe each other.
The sound of laughter and chatter bubbled up once again from the long table a few feet away and Caroline glared at the group of eight young men and women who were enjoying themselves, completely oblivious to any disruption they might be causing to the rest of the pubs patrons.
"Get us another drink, Caroline." Her Dad instructed, barely looking at her.
"This'll be the last mind." Celia said. "You can't turn up to work smelling of booze tomorrow and it's beginning to get a bit noisy in here anyway." She warned him, nursing her own small glass of wine.
Caroline rose, happy of an excuse to leave the table, she strode across to the bar passing the young rabble as she went. She had to pause to ask one of the young men to pull in the back of his chair as she passed, with an excuse me. He turned just noticing her and grinned, looking up and down the length of her legs that were exposed below her knee length skirt.
"Alright sweetheart, sorry about holding you up." He said tucking in his chair slightly so that Caroline had to squeeze around him with an impatient sigh. "Come and join us if you like." He called too her back.
Caroline rolled her eyes and gave the barman her order.
She carefully made her way back to the table, balancing the triangle of drinks in her hands now, she decided to take a slightly different route around the long table and as she did so she caught sight of a new face watching her with a smile. A young, dark skinned woman was peering over the rim of her pint glass at Caroline as she passed and there was something in the way she watched her that made Caroline feel suddenly self conscious.
When the blonde was safely back to her table she allowed herself to look over at the table and locate the woman who had watched her, for a second look. The young woman was sat beside the quietest of the men and she laughed loudly now as she lent across the table to talk to another girl, but as she sat back onto the bench she occupied, she cast another look at Caroline, their eyes meeting unexpectedly and Caroline looking away quickly.
She was very pretty. Caroline thought as she glanced over one more time and was greeted with a warm smile. Very pretty, with a lovely smile, and eyes. She looked friendly, she was obviously popular, Caroline watched as a boy at the other end of the table began clamoring to get her attention for a story he was telling. Caroline wondered what that would be like. She had friends at Oxford, a couple of very good friends and some pleasant acquaintances but she spent most of her free time in the library, studying, or in the lab, helping out. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to be the centre of a large group of friends with nothing but fun on their agenda, that had never attracted her before.
"You want to go and have a drink with the young lot?" Her Dad spoke up suddenly.
Caroline coloured and shook her head, fixing her eyes back on her almost empty glass.
"Of course not!" Celia jumped in. "Our Caroline doesn't want to be socialising with a bunch of hoodlums like that." Celia exclaimed flabbergasted.
"They have drunken pillocks at Oxford as well you know." Her Father said huffily before the table descended once again into an uncomfortable silence.
Xxxx
"They your parents?" A voice said behind Caroline.
Caroline span around, unaware that anyone else was out here as she watched her parents stride ahead of her to where the car was parked.
"Yes." See confirmed as she found herself confronted by the gorgeous smile she had been trying not to daydream about since she had first seen it an hour ago.
"Thought so, you looked bored." The young women said, holding her arms around herself against the cold, she optimistically wore only a cardigan and the summer evening had turned cold.
Caroline smiled. "Yeah, well, we don't see each other a lot so I guess... You have to make the effort."
"You could have joined us...the lads are a bit daft but...they're harmless enough." Another genuine smile.
"Thanks, but I am not much for...socialising, making friends..." Caroline tried to explain.
"You're not shy? You don't seem shy." Dark, interested eyes asked her.
"No." Caroline glanced at her parents as they disappeared around the corner, she would have to follow soon. "I just don't like ...many people...I suppose..."
Kate chuckled at the womans honesty.
"They don't like me much." Caroline added quickly, for some strange reason she didn't want to leave this woman with the impression that most people got of her, that she was a snotty cow.
Kate's sparkling smile spread across her face as she realised that the blonde had just revealed something about herself. "I can't imagine that being true."
"I have to go." Caroline said, pointing after her parents.
"I'm Kate." The young woman called as Caroline took a couple of steps away from her.
"Caroline." Caroline replied, turning back momentarily.
"Maybe I'll see you again Caroline." Kate said as she made her way back inside the pub.
Caroline hurried away, feeling light all over, maybe this summer wasn't going to be the worst ever, after all.
XXX
A/N- Thanks to all who read and review. I have a few ideas for where this may go and I hope to do short but quick updates.