It was now the weekend and Grace was so relieved. She had a nagging feeling in her stomach and was just ready for the weekend. Her mother was working as she normal does on a Friday, so Grace let herself into the house. She changed into her pyjamas before snuggling up on the sofa. She usually did her homework on a Friday night so she wasn't doing it throughout the weekend, but she really wasn't in the mood for that tonight.

"Remember you are going to Michelle's tonight because me and Marcus are going out" Maria said as she walked into the house with Liam just after 6 o'clock.

"What?" Grace complained. She had completely forgotten that her mother had that planned. Michelle had suggested that the children slept over at her house to give Maria and Marcus more space.

"Come on, I need you to pack a bag now" Maria encouraged trying to get the girl to stand up.

"Just put some joggers over your pyjamas" Maria said as she walked into Liam's room to sort his bag out.

"I'm starving" Grace complained.

"You'll need to eat at Michelle's. Liam had dinner at his childminder's tonight" Maria explained, and Grace huffed. She went into her bedroom and did what her mother asked. She also grabbed her phone changer and school bag. If she had to go to Michelle's, then she might as well just do her homework at the same time. She liked Michelle but she also knew that the woman would be working so she'd be on her own most of the evening. She didn't understand why she couldn't just stay at home.

"Behave tonight and look after Liam for me, will you? Michelle will be working so don't get in the way" Maria demanded as they walked over the road to the Rovers and Grace nodded. She didn't understand why they had to go to the Rover's. They might as well just stay at home, but Maria still wanted an adult near and that wasn't guaranteed in the flat.

They arrived at the Rovers and went through the back. Grace was still huffing, and Maria wanted to get her on side before leaving.

"Look, go and get yourself chips from Dev's" Maria said giving her daughter a fiver. A smile spread across Grace's face as she ran off to the takeaway shop. She instantly felt better as she munched her way through the chips. Maria stole one off her daughter before kissing her on the head.

"I love you and I'll see you tomorrow" Maria said as she kissed the girl again before saying goodbye to her son.

Grace finished her chips before doing some of her homework. She had found something for her brother to watch on the TV to keep him occupied. Michelle checked on them a couple of times making sure that they were happy before continuing with her work.

Grace then decided it was time to take her brother to his bed. She could tell that he was getting tired now and it was past his bedtime.

She walked behind her brother going up the stairs and helped him in the bathroom. She stepped outside the room as he went to the toilet.

"Gracie, you've got a big red spot on your bum" Liam stated as he came out of the bathroom and noticed his sister leaning against the door waiting for him.

"What?" Grace asked trying to turn around to see. She blushed when she realised her brother was right.

"Get into bed, I'll be one minute" Grace said as she ran into the bathroom. She cursed to herself when she saw that her pants were covered in blood. Her pyjama bottoms were light pink and had blood on them as well. She had only brought jeans for tomorrow, but now she wished that had brought black leggings instead. She wanted to slip down the wall in tears, but she couldn't. She was on her own again.

Grace snuck into Michelle's room and rummaged through her drawers to find some leggings. She knew it was bad to do this, but she didn't feel like she had any other choice.

"Gracie, I'm sleepy" Liam complained "I've been waiting ages"

He did wonder why his sister was in

Grace snuck into Michelle's room and rummaged through her drawers to find some leggings. She knew it was bad to do this, but she didn't feel like she had any other choice.

"Gracie, I'm sleepy" Liam complained "I've been waiting ages"

"I know, I'm coming. Can you try to get to sleep? I'll come check on you and if you are still awake then I'll read you a book" Grace compromised, and Liam reluctantly agreed. Grace quickly found a pair of Michelle's leggings and ran to the toilet. She changed the leggings were a bit big but they would be fine. She got the pants she had for tomorrow and stuffed them with toilet roll. She then went to check on her brother who as she expected was still awake. She read him a story and stayed with him until he fell asleep. She then returned down the stairs.

"Is Liam asleep? I was just coming to check on you both" Michelle said as she noticed Grace reaching the bottom of the stairs. Grace nodded and Michelle looked at her cautiously.

"Is everything okay?" Michelle asked and Grace nodded. However, Michelle could see through the show face. She wanted to stay but also knew she needed to get back to work. She returned deep in thought.

"Hey, how are you?" Carla asked as Michelle walked out to the bar.

"I'm fine. I've got Grace and Liam staying with me tonight" Michelle explained.

"Are they through the back?" Carla asked and Michelle nodded.

"Liam's in bed though" Michelle explained, and Carla nodded.

"Do you mind if I go and see Grace?" Carla asked.

"Of course, not" Michelle said, not thinking anything of it.

Carla wanted to have a little catch up with Grace. She knew that the girl had had her first counselling session earlier in the week and Carla wanted to make sure the girl was okay.

"Hey" Carla said as she knocked on the living room door. Grace was sat on the sofa with her feet up to her chest.

"Hi" Grace said nervously putting her feet down and allowing Carla to sit beside her.

"How has your week been?" Carla asked.

"Yeah, fine" Grace said unsure where this was going.

"Your mum said you had your first counselling session. How was it?" Carla asked getting straight to the point.

"It was fine" Grace said before looking at Carla.

"What's up with you?" Carla snorted not impressed with the girl's attitude.

"Sorry" Grace said embarrassed. She looked down, Carla hadn't done anything wrong, she shouldn't be treating her like this.

"What's up?" Carla asked softly and this caused Grace to burst into tears.

"I want to go home" Grace admitted.

"Why?" Carla asked and Grace shrugged.

"Lots of reasons" Grace admitted.

"Do you think you can tell me some of them?" Carla asked and Grace shook her head.

"I just want my mum" Grace whispered. Carla looked around unsure.

"Can you try and speak to me first and then we can get mum if I can't help?" Carla asked. She was reluctant to call Maria if it could be prevented as she knew how much the woman had been looking forward to an evening out with Marcus.

"I want to go home and get a changed of clothes" Grace admitted.

"What's wrong with the clothes you have brought?" Carla asked.

"I need something else from home though" Grace mumbled.

"Is it something that Michelle will have here?" Carla asked and Grace shrugged. She guessed the woman would have it, but she was too embarrassed to say anything.

"I went and took leggings from Michelle's room because I got blood on my joggers" Grace muttered and Carla nodded able to understand what the girl was getting at.

"So you need tampons or pads?" Carla asked and Grace nodded wiping the tears that fell from her face.

"Come on, Michelle will have things" Carla said standing up and encouraging the girl to get up as well.

"Can't you just go, it's too embarrassing" Grace admitted. Carla asked.

"Though it's nothing to be embarrassed about" Carla said, but Grace just pushed herself further back against the sofa.

"Hey, come with me" Michelle said kindly as she opened the door to the living room after Carla had explained to her what the issue was. Grace shook her head and stood crouched at the back of the sofa.

"Grace" Carla tried as she took a step towards the girl, Grace shook her head.

"Come with us, its nothing to worry about. We can help you" Michelle said as she held out her hand towards Grace.

"I want my mum" Grace cried.

"Come with me, I'll text your mum" Michelle encouraged softly, her motherly side coming out. She grabbed her phone to prove to the girl that she was speaking the truth.

"Text Mum first" Grace murmured.

"Okay, there you go" Michelle said quickly messaging Maria to tell her that Grace was upset and asking her to text or call. Grace nodded and slowly walked towards Michelle. Carla watched on in shock as to how vulnerable the girl now seemed.

The three of them walked up the stairs. Michelle wasn't sure what the girl used but decided just to give her some pads. Grace accepted them and muttered a quiet thanks before disappearing to the bathroom to sort herself out.

"What did you say to Maria?" Carla whispered once the door was closed.

"I asked her to call us" Michelle said "I don't know what to do. I don't understand why she's acting like this. I'm sure it isn't her first"

Carla shrugged.

"She's been through a lot though. I don't know it all, but she hasn't had an easy time in care" Carla explained and Michelle nodded.

Grace came out of the bathroom and Michelle encouraged her down the stairs.

"I don't want to speak about it" Grace stuttered.

"Just come and sit down" Michelle encouraged rather than answering the request. They walked into the living room and Michelle made Grace a hot chocolate.

"What made you act like that?" Carla asked. Grace couldn't deal with it and felt like she was stuck. She was trying to find her escape. Carla was blocking the door, that was the only way she could exit. Grace's heart started racing and suddenly, she couldn't breathe.

"Grace, you need to take deep breaths for me" Carla said as she held onto the girl's hands.

"Mum" Grace mumbled and Carla looked at Michelle.

"I've messaged Mum" Michelle said reassuringly. Carla stroked the girl's hands trying to calm her breathing down. It was working until Michelle's phone started ringing and Grace jumped again.

"Hey, yeah. Can you have a word with her? I'm not sure" Michelle said into the phone before passing it to Grace.

"Mum, I need you please. Can I come home? Please mum" Grace cried.

"What's wrong sweetie? Can you try and breath for me?" Maria asked over the phone completely confused.

"Mummy" Grace cried.

"I'm on my way" Maria said realising that she was getting no where with the girl on the phone. Grace nodded before handing the phone over to her aunt again.

Maria arrived within 10 minutes and as soon as her mother walked into the room, Grace was up and ready to leave.

"Grace, what's going on?" Maria asked having never seen her daughter like this before.

"We need to go home now, please" Grace begged clinging onto her mother.

"What's happened?" Maria asked and Carla shrugged.

"Come on then, can I just pick Liam up tomorrow?" Maria asked "I'm so sorry about this"

Michelle nodded. Grace grabbed her school bag and stood at the door leaving her mum, Michelle and Carla in the living room.

"I don't really know what all that was about. She admitted to me that she's started her period but I'm unsure why she's acting like this. I assume this isn't her first" Carla said, and Maria nodded.

"No, it's not and it's not like she hasn't had a period since she's been with me. We speak about it openly now. I have no idea why she's acting like this. I'll bring her round tomorrow though when I pick Liam up. It's important that she speaks to both of you" Maria said, and Carla nodded. Maria put her arms around Grace as they returned to the house.

"Marcus is in my bed. Do you want me to come in with you?" Maria asked and Grace nodded. They entered the house, and both changed into their jammies. Maria went to update Marcus before returning to her daughter.

"What was that all about tonight?" Maria asked as she played with Grace's hair. Grace shrugged.

"I just felt really weird. When I came home from school my stomach was hurting. I was annoyed that I was going to Michelle's cause I just wanted to relax at home. I was fine until Liam went to bed and then I noticed I'd started my period. I leaked on my joggers and then I just felt alone. I felt a way I have never felt since I was in care and I didn't like it. It just set me off and I wanted you. I felt like Michelle and Carla were against me as they weren't letting me get to you" Grace admitted, and Maria nodded.

"Next time call me straight away. Don't let it build up so big. Did you have anything with you or ask Michelle?" Maria checked knowing what her daughter could be like.

"I wasn't planning on telling anyone but then I told Carla and she told Michelle who got pads for me" Grace admitted and Maria nodded.

"Make sure you always have some in your bag instead. I think you've become more regular now and joined my cycle.

"Are you on your period?" Grace asked.

"I'm due to start tomorrow" Maria said and Grace nodded.

"I'm sorry I ruined your date with Marcus" Grace admitted.

"Hey, you always come first so don't you worry about that" Maria said kissing the girl on the head. Grace smiled and snuggled into her mother. She then drifted off to sleep. Maria waited until the girl was sleeping before joining Marcus again. She really didn't want to get in a habit of the girl thinking that her mother would sleep with her.

The following day

Maria woke Grace up and instructed her to get dressed as they were going to collect Liam.

"I don't want to go over" Grace complained. She was so embarrassed by her behaviour yesterday.

"Come on" Maria said knowing what Grace was like. She knew that she would be embarrassed, and she didn't want this to carry on. Michelle was always there to help, and she didn't want Grace not wanting to see the woman when she hadn't done anything wrong.

"Mum, no" Grace complained. Maria encouraged the girl up before instructing her to get dressed.

"How is she?" Marcus asked having heard the drama from the night before.

"She's refusing to go and see Michelle, but she needs to" Maria said clearly stressed.

30 minutes later, they were walking across the street to the Rovers. Maria had nearly had to drag Grace out of the flat and pull her across the road. There had also been tears and it was obvious that Grace had been crying.

They arrived at the Rover's and Maria chapped on the door. Michelle let her in.

"Oh no, I hope the tears weren't because of me" Michelle said as she pulled Grace into her arms not even giving the girl a chance to reply. Grace relaxed and realised that her aunt wasn't holding anything against her.

"I'm sorry about last night and Grace is too" Maria said, and Grace nodded.

"Nothing to be sorry for" Michelle said keeping her arm around the girl.

"Are you feeling better today?" Michelle asked as Maria left to find her son. Grace nodded.

"You know that you can always come and stay here" Michelle said and Grace nodded.

"You can speak to me as well. You could have told me that you needed pads last night" Michelle said and Grace blushed but nodded.

"I'm sorry, I'm just getting used to speaking to my mum so another person was just too much" Grace admitted. Michelle nodded.

"Well as long as you know that I'm here" Michelle said and Grace nodded. Maria returned with Liam in her arms.

"Gracie, I was scared when I woke up and you were gone" Liam said fighting out of his mother's arms and running over to his sister. Grace pulled her brother into her arms and begged her mother to leave.

"Do you have time for a coffee?" Michelle asked and Maria agreed. Though she could tell that Grace wasn't impressed and still wanted to go. Maria wanted Grace to relax with Michelle again and this was the only way to ensure it happened.

They spoke for a bit longer and drank their coffees. By the end of the half hour, Grace was back being comfortable with Michelle which both Maria and Michelle were grateful for. Michelle was Maria's go to for babysitting and she didn't want to put her or Grace in a difficult position if needing help again.

They then headed back home, Liam was excited to see Marcus but Maria still had one thing she wanted to do.

"Liam, you run up and stay with Marcus, me and Grace just need to nip out quickly" Maria said and Grace gave her mother a look. She was confused as to what her mother was on about.

Once Maria was sure that Liam was with Marcus, they headed into the car and drove to Victoria Court.

"Mum no" Grace complained when she realised where her mother was driving her too.

"No, you've sorted things with Michelle, now Carla" Maria said as she got out of the car and encouraged her daughter to do the same. Grace huffed but did as her mum asked her to do.

They knocked on the door and Carla let them in. Maria had messaged prior asking if it was okay that she came over.

"Sorry, we just wanted to see you after yesterday" Maria explained.

"No problem, how are you feeling?" Carla asked Grace.

"Fine" Grace said blushing. She was still embarrassed. Maria rolled her eyes.

"Sorry Carla, someone's just feeling a bit embarrassed" Maria said. Grace looked at her mum and wanted to hit her for saying that. She had just made it worse.

"Well, you have nothing to be embarrassed about" Carla said. Grace blushed and looked down.

"I'm serious, look all woman have periods. It's nothing, I'm more concerned about how upset you got afterwards" Carla said and Grace huffed knowing that she would need to explain herself or they would just keep going on about it.

"I just felt like you were stopping me from getting my mum and I didn't like it" Grace admitted.

"I never tried to stop you speaking to your mum" Carla said confused.

"I know but my mind didn't. My mind said that you were blocking the door, that you won't let me phone my mum. It was my mind" Grace stressed.

"Okay, try not to get all worked up. It's okay. I understand" Carla said trying to calm the girl down. Grace nodded and relaxed again. She hated getting so stressed about nothing. They stayed for coffee and as with Michelle when it was time for them to leave, Grace and Carla's relationship was back to how it was before.

"Remember you can always text me if you want to chat" Carla said, and Grace nodded. She was lucky to have such good friends and family around her.

They arrived back at the flat and Marcus spent the day with them. They spent most of the day in front of the TV as Marcus and Maria were both nursing a hangover.

"Mum, can I have a word?" Grace asked nervously as she walked out of her bedroom and into the living room.

"Of course" Maria said sitting up as she was currently snuggled up on the sofa with Marcus.

"Do you want to go into my room?" Maria asked unsure if the girl wanted to speak in private. Grace nodded.

They walked into Maria's room and the woman shut the door before sitting on the bed facing her daughter.

"What's up?" She asked softly.

"Well, I was sort of wondering. Well, I've just sort of found that" Grace stuttered unable to get the words out. Maria grabbed onto her daughter's hands hoping that that would reassure her that she was okay.

"Well I kind of want to try wearing a tampon" She admitted.

"Sure, I don't have an issue with that, you are 15" Maria said before disappearing to her bedroom and bringing her daughter a box.

"The instructions will explain what to do. Any issues let me know though" Maria explained, and Grace nodded.

"You're okay with it? You don't think I should wait until I've had sex?" Grace asked and Maria shook her head.

"I've given you slender ones so it's fine. You don't have to have had sex to wear tampons. I don't know why some girls think that is true" Maria said and instantly Grace felt better.

"Thanks" She said jumping off the bed.

"Remember not to wear it more than 8 hours or you can get toxic shock syndrome. I also say wear pads at night" Maria explained and Grace agreed.

She quickly went into the ensuite and returned about 5 minutes later.

"Did you manage?" Maria asked and Grace nodded.

"It's a bit strange" She said.

"You'll get used to it" Maria said as she kissed her daughter on the head.

"I love you" Grace said and Maria smiled. She loved it when her daughter said that to her.