A new face arrives at Blackwall and its not a firefighter. Also, Marion sets her sights on Vaseline but is his head elsewhere? And Blue watch are called to a well to do family whose faulty electricity causes a life threatening fire.

The new year began with an hangover George staggering into the fire station with Tony, Bayleaf and Charisma singing big spender really loudly while cleaning the engines. Tate soon arrived and grinned when he saw most of the watch already doing their duties, George went upstairs to the canteen but he was shocked to see he wasn't alone.

In the kitchen was a woman; middle aged with grey hair. She was off medium height and was wearing an apron giving her the look of a school dinner lady. Hallam came up from behind him and said cheerfully,

"Ah George, I see you have met Maggie, our new cook, you're the first one to have met her. It was Tate's idea, she's a friend of his and it will lighten to load for Bayleaf."

George smiled at Maggie who waved and gave an eccentric smile. Just then, Josie, Charisma and Kevin cake upstairs and gave Maggie a friendly welcome when Hallam introduced them to her. Maggie smiled happily; she hoped that being at blackwall fire station would bring her comfort away from her lazy, good for nothing husband.

Marion was collecting glasses while chatting away to her best friend, Kelly Watson. The two girls had gone to school together and had been a source of comfort for each other through good times and bad through the years, Kellys dad Sam was a regular at the Oliver Twist and her brother Les once had a bit of a thing for Marion however Brian had put an end to any budding romance. Kelly was a pretty, blonde haired girl just like Marion but was much more outspoken and took no prisoners.

"Hey Marion, is your brother away at the moment? ", she asked as she sat at the bar. Marion shook her head,

"Course not, he never gets sent away over christmas. He's going away next month though. I worry about him. Its Brussels this time. Joy is really panicking, now she's got Matthew, its double the worry."

The conversation was interrupted by Brian who was carrying a huge box of crisps from the storage room. He put the box down and poured himself a beer.

"Marion love, help your old man sort out this lot will you? " he asked breathlessly. Marion nodded and started stacking up the shelf with crisps. The topic soon turned to love lives,

"Your brother doesn't have any single friends does he? " Kelly asked as she began reading a magazine. Marion giggled and shook her head,

"Not unless you like grumpy middle aged men who shout left, right, left, right! "

Brian laughed out loud as did Kelly then he stopped and looked at Marion,

"I forgot to tell you Marion, this young lad who works at Blackwall fire station asked after you, it was the day Matthew was born, you wasn't in. Its only just come to me! He's got curly hair and acts like the life and soul of the party, do you know him? "

Roland.

Marion remembered him, she hadn't seen him for a while but she still walked past the station on her way to the shops. While he seemed so cocky and full of himself, there was something about him that was intriguing...

"Marion! There's a customer! "

She snapped back to reality and tossed her hair away from her eyes as she served a toothless old man who smelt of cigarettes.

Dominic Fyres was adjusting the garden lights, his wife Moira had been going on about how the garden needed sprucing up and he hoped that he had achieved that at least. He loved Moira dearly but sometimes she often got ideas above her station and liked to think she was better than everyone else. Dominic and Moira had a lot of backlash from some of their neighbors primarily because of their mixed race relationship. Moira had a daughter named Morgan who was a beautician while Dominic had a daughter called Siobhan who was a trainee accountant. Three years earlier, they had their own child, Kylie who was spoilt not just because she was the youngest but she was a surprise late child. As Dominic finished adjusting the lights, he failed to notice the faulty cable connecting the lights to the switch inside.

"Dom! Come and have a look at Mrs Greenhouses new car! " Moira called out and Dim sighed heavily. Kylie was upstairs in her room and Siobhan was out with her friends so he knew he couldn't stay out long.

He failed to see the smoke emerging from the cable, before flickering and catching a light.

The watch were eating their dinner and chatting amongst themselves when the bell began to ring. One by one they made their way to the fire truck as Tate gave out instructions. As the truck drove away, Kevin noticed that some of his younger brothers friends were hanging around in the park nearby.

Moira and Dominic were frantically shouting as the fire raged inside, it had spread rather quickly and Kylie was still inside. Moira was terrified and hoped to God that she was be rescued on time. Moira ran towards the fire engine as it arrived,

"Save my baby! " she wailed as Josie and Bayleaf fought their way through the flames with masks over their faces. Vaseline grabbed the hose with Malcolm and Charisma and began spraying the outside fire.

Josie fought hard as she raced up the stairs and coughed and spluttered as she heard the sound of a toddler crying.

"Bayleaf! She's in there! " she cried, pointing to the door on the left, Bayleaf kicked this open while Josie raced in and grabbed the child.

"Be careful Josie, the stairs are about to collapse! " Bayleaf shouted as the smoke because thicker. They ran down the stairs and managed to somehow make it outside, handing the child over to an emotional Moira.

"Oh thank you so much, both of you! " she cried as she held her beloved Kylie to her. Dominic wrapped his arms around them both as Morgan and Siobhan both arrived, Siobhan immediately going over to Dominic and hugging him.

Marion was serving a group of young men who had been wolf whistling at her when Eileen rushed in, she was like an older version of Marion but had wider hips and was taller. She was a very attractive woman and sometimes used it to her advantage but she was loyal to Brian and they loved each other.

"The Ayres's house is on fire! Its ok though no one has been hurt! "

Marion almost dropped the tray she was carrying,

"How bad is it? What happened? "

"I don't know but it was bad, the firefighters from blackwall are there right now. "

Marion paused for a moment; if the blackwall firemen were there then Roland Cartwright would surely be there. She put the tray on the bar and shouted,

"Im going to the shops, I'll be back in a sec! "

The Ayres house looked blackened and the smell of smoke and ash lingered in the air. Morgan and Siobhan were standing outside the house, still in disbelief that the family home was in state of despair and ruin. Thankfully there was insurance but it would take months for the house to be restored to its former glory. Morgan walked over to the fire truck where Vaseline was packing away the gear,

"Roland Cartwright, I thought I'd recognized you! "

Vaseline smiled at her, the two had dated in high school and Morgan had taken his virginity but the relationship ended when he two timed her with siobhan. It had taken her a while to forgive them both.

"Sorry about the house."

"Me and Siobhan don't live here. We live with flatmates in bethnal green, we we're having a family barbeque today but that's gone for a burden. How are you anyway? "

Marion fast walked up the path leading to the Ayres house, applying a quick layer of rose pink lipstick as she did so. She hoped that Roland would be there but she stopped dead when she saw him. He was standing with Morgan and chatting and flirting with her. She felt a sharp pain in her stomach even though she barely knew him and a lump in her throat. Maybe Morgan was his girlfriend? She turned round and started walking back just as he saw her.

"Marion?! "

Marion walked faster, her heart racing. Roland wanted to run after her but he knew he was due back at the station. He got back into the truck and as it drove away, he made a note to stop by at the pub.

Marion sat at the bar, feeling miserable. She looked incredible but felt ugly and worthless. It was her night off and Brian had suggested that she go and see Joy and baby Matthew but she had refused. She could still feel her heart racing inside her and wished she could put the feeling to bed. She decided to go and see Joy after all, she loved her like a sister and felt really selfish not seeing her and her nephew whom she adored. She missed her brother though and wished he would come home soon.

Just then, the door bust open and Roland Cartwright stood in all his splendour. He was wearing a grey suit and the smell of aftershave was over powering. Marion looked at him and said flatly,

"Yes what can I get you? " she was about to go behind the bar when Vaseline grabbed her hand,

"Wait, please. Look, That girl you saw she's just an old friend of mine. She's a nice girl. "

"I know she is, I know her step sister too."

"Look, I feel embarrassed saying this but I do fancy you. I mean your the best looking bird in blackwall."

"Do I have a beak? I haven't got feathers you know. "

Then she suddenly burst out laughing and Vaseline smiled at her.

"Oh you like your humour then don't you? Listen, do you fancy going out next saturday, its my night off. "

"Ok then, it will have to be at eight though, I'm working till seven. "

"Great I'll see you then. "

"Bye. "

Marion smiled to herself as Vaseline left, she hoped that this would be the dream relationship she had craved ever since she was a little girl.