Katy was thoroughly enjoying the chance for a bit of peace and quiet, flicking through a magazine and sipping a coffee in the café. Kathy smiled at her warmly, bringing her a fresh cup and holding up a hand when the younger blonde opened her mouth to offer to pay. Gratefully, Katy smiled at her and leant back in her seat.

Her peace didn't last long, however, as someone slipped into the chair opposite hers. Sighing, Katy raised her eyes to look at the person staring at her and was slightly confused to see her best friend's ex-fiancé and her cousin's current boyfriend smiling nervously back at her. Frowning at Callum, she folded her arms and tilted her head curiously.

"What d'you want?"

"I need your help." He replied hopefully.

There was something endearing about him and the young woman found it very difficult to keep her attitude icy. "With which of my cousins?"

"Huh?"

She smiled wryly. "Whitney and Callum are both my cousins. I just love one and hate the other."

"This place…"

"Yeah, I know."

"So… will you help me with Whit?"

Katy narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What d'you mean, help you with Whit? What d'you want to do to her?"

"No! I don't want to do anything to her." Callum looked panicked at the very idea. "I'm worried about her."

"Oh, so now you're worried about her?"

"I still love her, Katy. I'm just not in love with her. I still care about her and want her to be safe and happy."

"Right…"

"This guy she's started seeing… I don't think he's right for her."

"I hardly think that's your place to comment anymore, is it?" Katy asked him coldly.

"Honestly, Katy, I've got no ulterior motives. I just want her to be happy."

"What, exactly, is wrong with this guy in your opinion?"

"I don't… I can't really…" Callum sighed, shaking his head. "I can't put my finger on what it is about him that's bothering me. I just… there's something that's not right."

"Look… I've already spoken to Whit about jumping into a new relationship so soon." Katy told him firmly. "I'm always gonna be here to watch out for her and if this guy sticks around and he is dodgy, I'll know. I've had my fair share of dodgy guys and I'll spot him a mile off."

"I know you hate me and I'm really grateful that you're listening to what I've got to say."

Katy arched an eyebrow, leaning back in her seat. "I don't hate you, Callum. If you're gay, you're gay. I just hate what you and Ben did to Whitney. You shouldn't have let it get so far… she shouldn't have had to walk out of her own wedding because you were too cowardly to do something about it."

"I know."

"I know you do." She acknowledged, softening slightly. "I also think you need to be careful with Ben." Seeing his expression, she huffed. "Yeah, yeah… you love him, he loves you. But I've known him a lot longer than you have, remember. There's a reason most of his family are wary of him. There's a reason I hate him. It's not down to me to tell you all his secrets... just be careful."

Callum nodded at her for a moment, before smiling weakly and standing up. He looked as though he wanted to say something else, before clearly thinking better of it and leaving the café.

Katy wrapped her hands around her mug and stared at her coffee thoughtfully. Clearly Callum was worried enough about his ex to ask her best friend for help, knowing that Katy was unlikely to give him an easy time. Despite what she had said to Whitney, the blonde was under no illusions about what her friend was like. Unlike Katy, Whitney seemed to bounce from relationship to relationship, apparently needing validation from a man to feel settled. It was physically painful to her best friend that the younger woman didn't seem to understand that she was worth far more than that.

Despite the fact that time was running out, her pre-transplant chemotherapy sessions were due to start the next day and the doctor had requested she stay in hospital for at least three weeks until they were sure the stem cells had settled and started doing their job, Katy knew that she needed to make time for Whitney before she went. She still hadn't told anyone that she was going into hospital and, now that it was so close, she wasn't really sure how to. There was so much going on with everyone that Katy didn't want to heap more worry onto any of them.

Ordering two take out coffees from Kathy, Katy smiled and headed out onto Bridge Street. She beamed at Whitney, doing her best to attract punters to her stall, before holding out one of the cups and arching an eyebrow. Gratefully, the brunette took the drink and smiled, moving to lean against the bench she'd laid her designs on.

"How're you feeling?"

Katy shrugged. "Like this is my last chance."

"You've gotta be positive, K." Whitney told her, looking slightly alarmed by her answer. "This is gonna work and you're gonna be back here calling people out and making being a working mum look easy."

The blonde laughed, nudging her with her shoulder. "Just try and stay single until I get back, yeah? Think you can last a month?"

"Shut up."

"Seriously, Whit." Katy's tone turned more serious. "I think it'll be good for you to be single for a while. Besides, Gran's stepping in for me at the R&R and I've told her you'll be around to help look after the kids; godmother duties are really starting now, babe."

"You know I'll be there for the kids as much as I can."

"I know."

"When are you going in?"

"Tomorrow morning." Katy told her, huffing loudly. "I'm going to be in until the middle of November, at least."

"And when's Ronnie donating?"

"End of the week."

"How you feeling about that?"

Katy shrugged, looking away for a moment. "She's just gotta sit there, hooked up to a machine. She'll barely even notice. It'll be fine."

"You know that's not what I was asking."

"I dunno Whit, alright?" The blonde admitted, fiddling with her coffee cup. "She's my mum. You know, better than anyone, how much… She was my fucking hero. I adored her."

"She knows how bad she's messed up."

"Does she?" Katy shook her head. "I don't know about that, Whit. I'm not sure she realises…"

"I think she does, K." Whitney told her seriously. "I think Ronnie knows exactly what she did and how badly she fucked up." She wrinkled her nose. "Look, I know you don't wanna hear this, but you gave me a few home truths, so now it's my turn. I think you need to forgive them, babe, for your sake as much as theirs. I don't think you're gonna be happy until you do."

"Maybe…"

"Katy."

"Alright, fine. You might be right." Katy agreed reluctantly.

"You know I am."

"Fine! Lemme just get this transplant out of the way and then I'll sort it out, OK?"

"Make sure you do."

Katy rolled her eyes at her friend, before leaning in and giving her a tight hug. They clung on for a couple of moments, before pulling away and smiling at each other. Before Whitney could open her mouth to speak, the blonde shot her a wink and blew her a kiss, before heading away to collect the children from school.