News that Mel and Sharon were selling the e20 to Ruby Allen reached Ronnie on Halloween. The information gave her several ideas, sending her mind into overdrive as she listened to Sharon complaining about her business partner. Staying silent as the older woman ranted, Ronnie got the distinct impression that she wasn't completely behind the idea.

"… bad enough, she wants me to sell my share to the woman who's father killed my husband… Denny's father."

Ronnie glanced up at her words. "You're totally right, Sharon. Mel shouldn't have put you in this position."

"I'm not even that bothered about selling… it's not like I need the hassle of the club at the moment. It's just…"

"I get it."

"I knew you would." Sharon sent her a rare smile.

Ronnie thought back to their relationship before she'd left the Square. They'd never got on particularly well and Ronnie knew that she had to take a lot of the blame for that. Since she'd been back, though, Sharon had been one of the only people who'd given Ronnie and Roxy a chance and not held what had happened against them. It had been a surprise, the younger woman had to admit, but not an unwelcome one.

"I've got a proposition for you." She announced suddenly. "You don't have to agree and if you don't, we'll say no more about it."

"Go on?"

"I'll buy your share of the e20." Ronnie told her firmly. "You name your price and I'll find the money. You'll be able to wash your hands of all this and we'll get one over on both Mel and Ruby in one go."

"I can't afford to give you mates' rates; I've got a baby on the way."

"I wouldn't expect you to." She shrugged. "We're family, ain't we? We don't rip each other off. You get me a figure and we'll do business."

Sharon watched her for a moment, evidently trying to work out whether Ronnie was being serious. Seeing something that obviously set her mind at rest, she nodded and stood up. Ronnie leant back in her seat, wrapping her hands around her mug of tea and smiling up at the other woman.

"I'll get you the number by the end of the day."

"Sharon…" Ronnie paused for a moment. "Only if you're certain. I don't want you thinking I'm taking advantage of you."

"Honestly, you'll be doing me a favour. Just… don't mention anything to Mel or Ruby."

They exchanged another smile and then Sharon left. Ronnie considered their exchanged for a moment, wondering whether she was doing the right thing. Owning part of the club would help to give them roots again, would allow them to feel as though they belonged on the Square. Tapping her phone against her lips, Ronnie considered the situation again for a couple of minutes before dialling her sister's number.

"Ron? What's up?" Roxy answered immediately. Ronnie could tell from her tone that the younger woman was distracted. "I'm just working on my costume for the Halloween competition at the Vic."

"Isn't it a couples competition?"

"Well, yeah… but there's no reason it has to be a couple couples competition."

"No, Roxy." Ronnie shook her head, knowing exactly what her sister was getting at. "Absolutely no way."

"Oh, come on, Ron! It'll be fun."

"Not a chance." She exhaled sharply. "I need to talk to you about something, Rox. Can you pop home for a bit?"

"Only if you promise you'll do this competition with me."

"Seriously? Fine!"

"Excellent!" Roxy exclaimed triumphantly. "I'll be back in about half an hour."

Placing her mobile on the kitchen table, Ronnie pulled her laptop towards her and started looking at their finances. She was sure that they would be able to raise enough to buy Sharon's share of the club. Mentally moving things around, she worked her way through their accounts until she was satisfied that they would be able to complete the deal.

"Right, what did you want to tell me?" Roxy announced, flouncing into the kitchen and placing two large bags on the table.

Her sister eyed them warily, before turning her attention back to the matter at hand. "I've offered to buy Sharon out of the e20."

"You've… what?"

"Mel was pressuring her to sell to Ruby Allen, which Sharon didn't want to do."

"So you thought you'd jump in and save the day, yeah?"

"Mel Owen's son shot my daughter, Roxy. She wants Sharon to sell to Ruby… I don't know why, but there's something going on. I am not going to let her get what she wants."

"Right… but buying into the club?" Roxy furrowed her eyebrows. "Doesn't that put us in direct competition with Katy's bar?"

"Technically, but R&R has been doing well against the e20, so there's no reason that us buying into the club will change anything."

"Do you believe that, or do you just want to believe that?"

Ronnie scowled at her. "Surely it's better that we're Katy's competition, rather than someone else. At least we want her bar to do well."

"Is she going to see it like that?" Roxy asked, unconvinced. "I mean, you've just managed to get things back on track with her. Are you completely sure she's not going to see this as some kind of betrayal or attempt to–"

"I'm going to tell her about it this afternoon. If she's against it then I'll reconsider."

"Do I not get a say in this?"

"Of course. I just thought you'd be up for owning a club again."

"Part owning."

"Alright, part owning." Ronnie conceded, rolling her eyes. "So? Are you interested or not?"

Roxy scowled at her. "Of course I'm interested. It's our club, Ron. I just don't want to share it."

Laughing softly, the older sister leant back in her seat, more relaxed now that she knew Roxy was on board. "I don't think we've got much choice in that one, Rox. According to Sharon Ruby's got the same amount of attachment to the club as we do. Besides, we couldn't afford to buy her out."

"Not yet."

Ronnie laughed again. "I like your optimism."

"Let's just hope Katy agrees with us."

She would have been lying if she'd said that Katy understood or was completely on board with their latest business move straight away, but Ronnie was relieved that, by the time she left the hospital, her daughter at least seemed to be coming round to the idea. It had even been Katy's idea that they could have joint promotions across the two premises, announcing that now the Mitchells were in control of both it would be stupid not to attempt to use that to their advantage. Clearly she hadn't considered Sharon's tenure in the e20 as a chance to work together.

Katy seemed more interested in talking about business than she did about how her recovery was going. Ronnie wasn't particularly eager to press the point, able to see how ill her daughter was for herself. Katy seemed incredibly weak, not able to do much except lie back against the pillows and talk to her. Ronnie was doing her best to ignore the IV lines pumping blood and platelets into her, knowing that Katy wouldn't be particularly pleased if she brought it up.

"How are the kids?"

Ronnie smiled. "They're at the Halloween party at the Vic. Roxy was in charge of costumes so I have no idea what they're going to look like."

Katy chuckled, imagining how badly that could turn out. "Are you going to the party tonight? Whit says she's going as Red Riding Hood."

"Mmmm… Roxy's decided that we should enter the couple's competition."

"But–?"

"I know, I know!" Ronnie held up her hands. "But she's convinced that it doesn't have to be couple couples. I didn't have the energy to argue with her."

"Make sure you send me photos." Katy ordered, a sad smile on her face. "Of you two and the kids. And Gran, if you manage to convince her to dress up."

"I don't think I can convince her to do anything. I think she's going to the R&R with Kathy, though. Tiffany and Keegan are babysitting all the kids."

"Ouch. How are things going with them? Have you managed to convince them to hold back for a bit?"

"I don't think so." Ronnie admitted. "They're pig-headed, like someone else I know."

"I didn't run off and get married at sixteen."

"But you would have if you'd wanted to." Her mother pointed out, arching an eyebrow. "I've never been able to stop you doing much, have I?"

"It's not your fault, though." Katy assured her. "I'm… I'm a Mitchell."

Laughing softly, Ronnie squeezed her hand. "You are. So… how are you feeling?"

"Mum."

"Katy, I'm worried about you. I'm allowed to be, aren't I?"

"Fine!" Katy rolled her eyes. "I'm tired, feel sick all the time, don't want to move at all, they're constantly pumping me full of something or other and I just want to come home." When Ronnie looked as though she was about to say something, her daughter shook her head. "At least they're happy with the way things are looking so far."

"I know it's early days, but have they said anything about when you can come home?"

"All I know is that it won't be until at least the end of the month." She said irritably.

"Out just in time for your birthday."

Katy shot her a look. "I do not want a party or any fuss at all."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"Speaking of parties… there's something I need to tell you."

At once Katy looked wary. "Oh god."

"No, no… it's nothing bad." Ronnie assured her quickly with a soft chuckle. "Roxy and I are thinking of buying Sharon's share of the e20." Seeing that her daughter was about to open her mouth, either to ask questions or complain, Ronnie continued quickly. "Mel's pressuring her to sell to Ruby, but Sharon hates that idea and I'm more than happy to do anything to upset Mel's plans."

"But… do you actually want to run the club again… with someone else?"

"We're not going to try and steal your business, Katy."

"That's not what I asked." The younger woman sniffed dismissively. "Besides, you couldn't if you tried."

"So you're OK with it?"

Katy shrugged. "To be honest, I hated seeing Mel walking around literally owning the place. It never felt right knowing that you weren't in there."

Ronnie beamed at her. "Excellent. Just don't say anything to anyone at the moment… I think Sharon's got some dramatic reveal planned."

Sending her an amused look, Katy raised the arm that wasn't attached to a drip bag containing platelets. "Who, exactly, do you think I'm going to tell in here?"