Hey Everyone!

So sorry it has been so long since i updated Life has been so hectic! But I am back now and ready so enjoy the new chapter!

Bayleaf is caught between keeping his wife happy and keeping his daughter happy while Marion excitedly welcomes her brother but excitement turns to despair when he takes an instant dislike to Vaseline.

Marion was finishing the decor for the arrival of her brother. Eileen and Brian had gone out and she was left to sort things out, she had hoped Kelly would help her but Kelly was preoccupied with her overprotective brothers constant watching over her that she hadnt turned up. It was one of the many things they had in common.

Marion loved Steven dearly and hated it whenever he went away, it was almost as though she couldn't feel like she was safe. Steven had always looked after, even as a child and he had always been critical of her boyfriends. She wondered how he would react to Vaseline but she was hopefully he would be accepting this time.

As Marion finished the decor, she admitted her handiwork. She hadnt done too bad the she looked down and frowned; there was a massive stain on her blue top. Muttering to herself she was about to head up and have a bath when a voice called,

"Hello Babe!"

Marion nearly fell over when she heard Vaselines voice.

"Roland! Don't startle me like that!" She shouted before she ran over and kissed him. They were officially dating and Marion couldn't be happier, Vaseline made her feel very special.

"Sorry babe anyway are you done with the decor?" Vaseline asked as he looked at the sign. Though he hated to admit it, he was nervous about meeting Marions brother, given that he was in the military it wouldn't surprise him if he was a beefy, macho man.

"Don't be nervous, Steven won't bite. Much." Marion joked.

"Don't joke Marion please, what if he beats me up?"

"He won't, i promise."

"Don't be sure babe, I've heard of the military type."

"Don't be silly and anyway I'm glad your here i need your help with some last minute preparations before he arrives tonight." Marion enquired as she grabbed two cans of coke from the bar and gave one to Vaseline.

"What's that then?"

"Help me put up another sign outside."

"No worries babe, anything for you."

Marion smiled at this comment and they headed outside.

Bayleaf was trying to call Karen, he hadnt seen Melanie for a while and he believed that Karen was deliberately keeping her from him after last nights row. She was still convinced that there was something between him and Josie and although he admitted that attraction was building between them, nothing had happened.

He sat by the telephone, almost waiting for the phone to ring. He wanted to hear his little girls voice once more. She was his pride and joy and right now she was the only good thing he had with Karen.

Suddenly the phone rung and Bayleaf picked it up like a bolt of lightening,

"Bayleaf, its Tate. You are still covering for Firefighter Cross aren't you?"

Bayleaf sighed sadly and said solemnly,

"Yes sir i will be there in an hour."

"Great,I'd just thought I'd give you a reminder because you know what happened when Vaseline forgot to cover Charisma..."

Bayleaf wasn't listening at this point, he was getting desperate to hear from Karen, he decided that he would visit her at her mothers house the next day.

The party was in full swing; Marion looked sensational. Dressed head to foot in a black jumpsuit with high heels and a ring on most fingers with her makeup done by her Uncle Raymond and her long hair curled. Some of the men were wolf whistling her and Vaseline, to his surprise, was feeling extremely jealous. He had never felt jealous like this with any other woman before, not even his previous two wives. Maybe Marion the third had an hold on him? He looked smart with his hair sleeked back, his shirt was blue and his jeans were black. At the corner of his eye, he could see Kelly sitting with her brothers, she looked just as lovely as Marion, she wore a pink blouse with white denim jeans and silver sandals, her hair plaited. One of her brothers saw Vaseline looking at her and scowled at him causing Vaseline to turn away. You knew better than to mess with the watson brothers especially when it came to their little sister.

Eileen suddenly can rushing in with Joy,

"Everyone he's here!"

Everyone rushed outside as a mini van pulled up outside, Marion waved her arms frantically as Steven jumped out of the car, Joy kept into his arms and kissed him, much to his delight. He was an attractive man with short strawberry blonde hair and strong biceps. He then embraced Marion who smiled with tears in her eyes while Eileen wiped her own tears. Vaseline stood awkwardly as the family reunion unfolded in front of him, he wondered if Lynette was coming but knowing his luck, she was probably either with her latest fancy man or hanging around with Margaret.

"Steven, Id like you to meet Roland. Roland Cartwright. Im sure Mum and Dad have already told you." Marion said excitedly. Roland held his hand out smiling but was shocked when Steven didn't return the smile but instead shook his hand without enthusiasm. As they headed inside Vaseline had a sneaking suspicion that Steven had taken an instant dislike to him.

Bayleaf was exhausted as he sat in the canteen, he had put out at least three fires today and his shift wasn't over for another two hours. George bought over two cans of coke and packets of cheese and onion crisps as he sat with him.

"I'm done in, i don't know about you." George exclaimed as he ate his crisps, "I have another long shift tommorow. How about you Bayleaf, you knackered?"

Bayleaf didn't answer, he was still worried about Melanie and wondered why he couldn't speak with her. He was still determined to speak with Karen the next day, this couldn't go on.

"Bayleaf!"

"Oh sorry George, yeah I'm done in. Good job I'm not here tommorow."

"Your worried about your little girl aren't you?"

"Yeah. I'm gonna see Karen tommorow."

"Well when you do go there please be prepared for an earful."

"I already am mate, I already am."

The party was over. Marion was helping Joy and Eileen clean up the bar while Steven and Vaseline sat together upstairs. The two men had barely exchanged words for most of the evening and Vaseline was at a loss at what to say. Finally he broke the ice,

"So Steven how long you been in the army?"

"A long time, always wanted to join the army even when i was a kid."

"That's a cool profession and its rewarding i would imagine, the fact that you put your life on the line..."

Suddenly Steven cut him off and turned towards him,

"Listen mate,enough of the fakery! How long you and my sister been shagging?!"

"You what? A while but its not like what you think.".

"Not what I think eh?! Look mate my sister has been messed about and used many times, including someone from your line of work and i will be damned if you will do that same to her. You see, Marion means alot to me and i would hate her getting hurt so I'm telling you now, you hurt her and ill cut your nuts off understand?!" Steven yelled just as Marion came up with Joyce,

"Steven! What the hell?!" Marion exclaimed, clearly embarrassed by what had been said. Steven and Vaseline looked at her while Joy shook her head.

"Sorry babe, i was just laying the law down to your boyfriend and telling him to treat you right."

"Well don't! I can look after myself you know."

"Really? Well I'm just putting it out there, if he treats you well then no one will get hurt but if he does he knows what will happen and that's all I'm saying. Right I'm off to bed, i want to make the most of the next few days."

Steven hugged Marion and followed Joy out of the room without exchanging another word with Vaseline. Vaseline sat there dumbfounded as Marion sat with him,

"Just ignore him Roland, he is a bit overprotective and has been since we were kids."

Vaseline smiled at her and they kissed before Marion lead him to her own bedroom.

Bayleaf arrived at the house at ten o clock Karens Mother had called earlier to say that Karen was available and wanted to speak to him with Melanie there. Bayleaf was nervous; Karens mother never liked him even when they got married she always made snide remark about him. Bayleaf swallowed as he knocked the door waiting for a potential tongue lashing.

Rita Jackson stood in front of Bayleaf like he was a bad smell. She never liked him and felt he was no good as an husband and father and the fact that she was looking at him on the door step.

"I would tell you to sling your hook but Karen wants to see you." She said coldly. Melanie was upstairs, she could hear her grandmothers hard words and wanted to curl up, she hoped that it would be a peaceful chat.

Melanie was like Bayleaf Not just in looks but in personality. She was raven haired with green eyes and a round face, she was also outgoing and could be very head strong. Melanie was watching her beloved Dad walk through the hallway and into the living room where her mum was waiting.

Karen was sitting on the sofa, her hair was nearly styled but she wore no makeup, she was dressed in jeans and a checked blue blouse and she was barefoot. She smiled at Bayleaf and stood up rubbing her hands together. She was nervous about talking with him but hoped that things would get better.

"Hello Mike how you doing?" She asked softly, Bayleaf smiled at her but said nothing at first. He was just as nervous as her and couldn't stand the fact that his mother in law was standing in the doorway looking annoyed and irritable.

"Karen can we talk in the kitchen please? Where's Melanie?"

"She's upstairs and she's not coming down!" Rita interrupted rudely. Bayleaf rolled his eyes at his mother in laws blunt response and Karen led him into the kitchen.

"Look Mike I don't want any animosity between us. I love you and I know you love Melanie so I want to make things right between us. But I think maybe its time for a change. So I'm going to sell the house."

Mike couldn't believe what he was hearing. The brigade was his life and now his wife was taking it away from him.

"I'm sorry Karen but that's not gonna happen, Im happy with the brigade all my mates are here..."

"Oh you mean that Josie Ingram is there you mean?!"

"Now don't bring her into this! She has nothing to do with it but think Karen! Do you want to put Melanie through all this? She loves it here and I do too and I don't wanna put her through all the stress!"

"Don't act like you care about our daughters feelings! You only want to stay because of that Josie!"

She collapsed at the table and put her head in her hands, Bayleaf had always feared for her mental health and had tried to get her to seek help but to no avail. She was prone to violent fits of emotional outburst and when she was like this, Bayleaf knew to stir clear. Normally he comforted her but instead he went outside in the back garden while Rita came and saw to her.

Bayleaf was stuck in a rut; he loved the brigade but he wanted to make his marriage work for Melanie's sake if nothing else. He sat on the grass and lit a cigarette as he thought about what to do.