Chapter forty three.

"I can't believe it. It's just going too far. Having it in the papers. It's just, it's cruel is what it is. It's twisted."

"Sarah, I'm really not bothered by it." Ayla said wearily.

"Oh don't talk rubbish Ayla. I know you better than anyone. I know this upsets you. You think you're being strong by ignoring it but you're not. You're just being stupid."

"If this is you at your most supportive remind me not to have anymore crises around you. You're not helping."

"No. Butthis will," Sarah said bringing out her wand. "Get ready to say hello to your fairy godmother."

She flicked the length of wood, summoning a large black bag out of thin air.

"Dear god Sarah, what the hell is that? If that's my fairy godmother then send her back 'cos' she stinks!"

"Don't be thick. I'm your fairy godmother, these are just my tools, my weapons."

"Weapons?"

"A week's supply of Gerry's dirty nappies." she said simply.

"And what exactly are you going to do with them? Or don't I want to know?"

"We're going to post them."

Sarah had a wicked gleam in her eye, and her voice gave nothing away that this was not a normal situation.

"To who? Oh Sarah no! That's disgusting. You can't do that."

"Why not?"

"It's not clean. It's not hygienic. It's the foulest thing I've ever heard of. And besides all of that, they'll know it's you."

"No they won't."

"They'll trace the owl back some how."

"Want a bet?"

"You're a mother, you shouldn't be doing things like this."

"This is about honour Ayla."

"No, it's about revenge. And it's beneath you. Aside from that it's my revenge, not yours."

"Well are you going to send them?"

"No."

"Then I'll have to."

"Sarah." Ayla pleaded.

"My minds made up."

"Where did you get the idea from?"

"My head."

"Liar. It's not your style."

"Ok, the Weasley twins."

"You told the Weasley twins! What did you tell them?"

"Everything."

"Everything?"

"Yup everything."

"But why?"

"I needed their advice. They agree with me. They think it'swrong what Kate's done. But they can't prove it any more than we can. They also think Oliver might have been slipped a hate potion too."

"A hate potion?"

"Yup against you. It wouldn't do for him to 'love' Kate and still be friends with you. It makes sense."

"So what? You're going to bomb Oliver with stinky nappies?"

"Oh no, not Oliver. He's innocent in all of this. Well sort of. These are for Kate and Adam."

"But Kate lives with Oliver."

"Well there are always casualties in war Ayla. You know that."

"You're mad."

"I prefer evil genius, but I suppose you're entitled to your opinion."

"They'll still be able to trace it to you."

"Ah well that's where dear old Fred and George come in."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, they've set up an anonymous delivery service. For Valentines and April Fools. No questions asked. Said they'd be delighted to help with my little endeavour."

"So you're filling my house with the stench of baby poop because?"

"Well Fred said he'd pick them up and send them on. But he can hardly come to my house. Melvin would ask questions."

"Right."

"He should be here any minute."

"Great."

"I know!"

"You really are mad."

"You don't think it's a good idea?"

"It's uh, different, I'll give you that."

The doorbell rang and Sarah jumped to her feet.

"That'll be George."

"I thought you said Fred?"

"Doesn't matter," Sarah said shrugging. "Aren't you going to answer the door?"

"This is your secret meeting, you answer the door. I'm going to make a cup of tea."

Ayla disappeared into the kitchen. While she waited for the kettle to boil she listened to the quiet mutterings of Sarah and her partner in crime. She heard the door shut and shouted:

"Do you two want a cup of tea?"

"It's just me. Fred had to go. It's probably not a good idea for us to be seen together anyway."

"Yeah, you're right. People might figure out your dastardly plan."

"I have good news though. Well sort of."

"Really, what?"

"The twins are brewing the antidote to the love potion. They're going to slip it to Wood as soon as possible."

"You actually think that's good news?"

"I said sort of. And I do feel a bit sorry for Wood. I mean drugged, and married to Kate? It's like a nightmare or something."

"Yeah I guess." Ayla said laughing.

"But it'll be tricky. Apparently Wood doesn't go anywhere without darling Kate."

"Well that's hardly a surprise. We know what Kate's like."

"True. So what's the deal with Flint?"

"Well Kris has finally given in and admitted that she doesn't really think he's gay. I think she did it to keep the peace more than anything. He even tried to flirt with her to prove his manliness. It was so funny, you should have seen the look on their faces."

"And what do you think?"

"I dunno. He seems ok I guess. And he's on my side which is nice. I mean a lot of people wouldn't believe me if I told them. But he does."

"Yeah, and he's not all that bad to look at, I mean have around!"

"Sarah!"

"What? The other girls have rubbed off on me. And I notice that you aren't disagreeing with me."

"Well yeah ok. But I don't think of him like that. We're just…"

"Friends?"

"Yeah. Friends. Oh come on like he's going to want me. And the baby. I can really see that happening."

"A lot's changed."

"I know."

"Look I'd best get home. Melvin's had Gerry for nearly two hours. Merlin knows how much of the house is left."

"Ok hun, see you next week."

"Bye."

And with that Ayla was alone. Sarah had come over to keep her company while Kris was away visiting family. It was strange to be on her own again. Kristina moving in had been just what she needed. But she'd be away for another week. And Jynx was splitting the time equally between Ayla's home and somewhere else. Though Ayla strongly suspected the somewhere else to be Marcus's home.

Looking back she wondered if she had been wrong to quit her job so soon. The days were long and dull. She filled them with reading, although she was now fast running out of books. She was bored. But she didn't want to go out. She felt vulnerable. She knew what her ex and her so-called family was capable of.

And she missed her realfamily. They were all so busy with their own lives that they hadn't realised how long it was since they last saw her. She knew that they soon would though. And then what? She couldn't ignore them. But she wasn't quite sure she could face them either. It wasn't shame that she felt, but guilt. For not telling them in the beginning. For believing they would disown her. Would it be wrong to keep the baby secret until the birth? Could she even do that? She had over six months left to go. It was hard to believe that she waspregnant. But her ever-swelling belly was a constant reminder.


I know I said no posts til next friday but I couldn't resist this. Hello to the new people who've reviewed. You guys are all awesome and I'm glad you're all still into this. Now no posts til friday, for real this time. x