A/N: I know this chapter is a little shorter than the last two but I wanted to get this one finished. I'm currently on day 10 of homeschooling and day 12 for my eldest since his 1-1 had to isolate and his school couldn't guarantee his EHCP needs being met. In 10 days I have only left my house to walk to shop 5 minutes up the road and to put my bins out for the weekly collection. The UK has officially been in 'lockdown' for a week and it's hard. I had to celebrate my youngest's first birthday without seeing family who wanted to celebrate with us. And to top that all off my dad and his partner now have this frigging virus and I can't even see them. I know this is hard for everyone and I am praying for this virus to go away so life can return to normal as quickly as possible. I hope that this chapter finds you all safe and well as you can be, wherever you are in the world.

Apologies for the emotional stuff, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I hope to get another one posted soon.

Chapter Thirteen

"God Jane, I'm so stupid!" Elizabeth groaned.

It was nearly ten o'clock the morning after Elizabeth's mishap with Will. Her head was throbbing as she took the glass of water that her sister offered her and placed the two tablets of paracetamol in her mouth. She took a large gulp of water and swallowed, silently hoping that the pain would ease soon.

"You had too much to drink to think straight? We've all been there." Jane said sympathetically.

"I broke down on my boss and sought comfort from him and in the process we nearly kissed. Talk about crossing the line!" Elizabeth groaned again.

The two sisters were sat in Jane's kitchen, with Lucy happily watching Peppa Pig on her tablet whilst occasionally eating the dried bowl of Cheerios next to her. The first thing Elizabeth had decided to do, after a much-needed lukewarm shower, was to seek her sister's advice. She had agreed to watch Lucy along with Lydia so Jane could have some one on one time with Peter.

"Why did you break down? What happened?" Jane asked visibly concerned.

She knew that she would have to tell Jane and Lydia eventually. Now that their parents knew why her marriage ended and now Will did too, her sisters needed to know.

Elizabeth took a deep inhale of breath before looking directly at her sister.

"The reason why David ended our marriage is because I can't have children, Jane. That's why I argued with Mum and she went to stay with Uncle Ed and why I broke down on Will." She said quietly.

Jane instantly leaned across the table and wrapped her arms tightly around Elizabeth's shoulders. Elizabeth returned her sister's supportive hug and after a few moments, they sat back down in their seats.

"I'm so sorry Lizzy. How are you doing?" Jane asked.

Elizabeth shrugged.

"It hurts. Knowing that I can't have children…it just feels like I've been robbed of something I never had…like a choice has been taken away from me…I tried to suggest going to counselling but David refused, he wanted a divorce." She sighed in reply.

"Had you been trying for long?" Jane asked quietly.

"Two- and a-bit years, beginning one year into our marriage. Then we took a little break before I suggested going for some tests with fertility experts. We kept trying…David needed some time to think it over…we eventually went, and he started becoming distant… when I confronted him he told me…" she trailed off, taking a deep breath to try and prevent herself getting worked up.

The last thing she wanted to do was cry in front of Peter and Lucy.

"It'll be okay, Lizzy." Jane whispered softly, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand.

Elizabeth smiled weakly and wiped away a stray tear.

"I know it will." She whispered back.

"Do you want to talk more about it?" Jane asked.

"Not now…when I'm ready to talk more…I'll come to you…" Elizabeth replied.

Jane nodded encouragingly and Elizabeth was grateful for the few moments of silence her sister gave her so she could compose herself before she got asked the dreaded question.

"So, do you fancy Will?" her sister asked with a smirk.

Elizabeth groaned again.

"Why? Why would I do that?" she scolded herself.

"Do you?" Jane pressed eagerly.

In truth, she would be a fool to deny that she found Will attractive. Those warm brown eyes that made her feel at ease, that smile – his infectious smile, that curly hair of his that made her wonder if it was as soft as Mia's and he looked good in a shirt; but it wasn't just his looks that she liked. He cared about her. It seemed like he cared about her. He offered to drive her home when she couldn't or didn't have her car yet. He did drive her home so that he knew she was safe after looking after his child all day. He showed concern when she could no longer keep it all together and cried on him last night.

She would be lying if she said that she didn't find him attractive. But she was his friend. His employee. And clearly the mixture of needing comfort after a very difficult period and alcohol consumed over the afternoon and evening had affected her judgement.

"He's definitely attractive…but I won't cross that line." Elizabeth muttered.

"Do you like him?"

"Of course, I do. He's my friend."

"Not what I meant, Lizzy." Jane said quietly.

"I can't…. get involved with him…. I don't want a relationship right now….I'm not even divorced yet!"

"You can't help who you like." Jane sighed happily.

Her sister's tone made her frown slightly. She watched as Jane zoned out of what they were talking about and followed her sister's gaze to a crochet doll that sat on the kitchen side. Looking back at her sister, Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.

"Charles?" Elizabeth questioned, taking her turn to smirk.

Jane flushed a light red.

"I…uh…I…"

"How are things between the two of you?" Elizabeth teased.

But before Elizabeth could interrogate her sister further, the front door to Jane's house opened and closed again, with the smell of bacon filling their nostrils as Lydia entered the kitchen with three paper bags.

"Okay, I bought three bacon butties." Lydia informed them.

Elizabeth and Jane took a bag each from Lydia before their youngest sister sat in the empty seat next to Elizabeth. Lucy was oblivious to the conversation, her attention totally on the next episode of Peppa Pig and her fingers dipping into her cereal. Just as the sisters took out their bacon butties, Peter came into the kitchen, still wearing his pyjamas and carrying his empty plate to the sink.

"Mummy, what are we doing today?" Peter asked, walking over to the crowded table.

"Well Aunty Lizzy and Aunty Lydia are looking after Lucy whilst you and I spend the afternoon together." Jane replied happily.

Peter's eyes lit up with excitement.

"Really mummy?" the little boy asked with a squeal.

Jane nodded.

"Yes, my love. Now, why don't you go and get dressed whilst I finish my breakfast?"

Peter happily ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs as Elizabeth looked at Jane with an eyebrow raised.

"Lydi, we need to quiz Jane about a certain red-headed man who she's dreamy about." Elizabeth informed her younger sister.

Lydia looked at Jane with the same facial expression as Elizabeth. It was one of many things that the three sisters had in common: their teasing facial expression. The raised eyebrows and the way their mouths twitched in amusement that they couldn't prevent from happening. Jane took a large bite of her bacon butty and met their gaze, her cheeks flushing once again.

"Janie do tell. Why is there a crochet doll of Charles sitting on your kitchen side?" Lydia teased.

"Do you like him?" Elizabeth sung.

Jane swallowed her food and smiled widely.

"Did something happen?" Lydia quizzed eagerly.

The bacon butties were held forgotten about in their hands as Jane nodded with a giggle. Elizabeth and Lydia squealed as Jane blushed like the red on a traffic light.

"Spill!"

"Tell us everything!"

It was as if Jane found it impossible to stop smiling.

"Well…after I put the twins to bed Charles came over last night…he had a gift made for Lucy…a crochet doll to look like him and a story to go with him so that Lucy could know who he was before he meets the twins…" Jane said happily.

"Aw that's really sweet." Elizabeth gushed.

"And there's more?" Lydia guessed.

Jane nodded.

"We…I…um…I kissed him…and he kissed me back…" she grinned.

"Oh Jane! That's great!" Elizabeth said happily.

"I know…I just…" Jane let out a relieved laugh, "He just keeps…giving me reasons to trust him…he really wants to be there for me…for us…"

It was really touching to hear Jane feel so happy for the first time in a long time. Ever since George had walked out on her and the twins, Elizabeth knew that Jane found it hard to let people in; especially when it came to letting someone bond with her children.

"So…did you invite him in?" Lydia quizzed curiously, taking a bite out of her butty.

"No…we kissed in the doorway for a bit until…uh…Jenny kind of interrupted us…" Jane answered embarrassed.

"I guess you momentarily forgot Lucy's night nurse was coming?" Elizabeth teased.

"A tad." Jane muttered with a smile.

"So, what happened next?" Lydia pressed.

The sisters continued to eat the rest of their breakfast, with Jane continuing her story of the previous night. After the interruption by Lucy's night nurse, Charles and Jane had parted ways with a last kiss and a promise to talk the next day. As Jane recalled the events of the previous night, Elizabeth hoped that Charles wouldn't let her sister down as George had.

"I'm glad that this is working out so far, Jane." Lydia smiled.

"I don't want to get ahead of myself," Jane sighed, "But he seems so…genuine…kind…gorgeous…"

The sisters shared a grin before Jane deliberately turned the tables back on Elizabeth. The sisters talked a little more about Elizabeth's pain over her infertility, how she had been holding it in for weeks and how she opened up to Will and nearly crossed that line. Lydia didn't say a word as Elizabeth told her story and when she came to the end of the brief version, Lydia wrapped her arms around her and held her tightly.

"David is such a dick." Lydia whispered.

Elizabeth sighed heavily.

"It is what it is. Our marriage would have ended eventually, we weren't meant to spend the rest of our lives together." She replied.

"Maybe so," Lydia said gently, "But you nearly kissed Will so what does that mean?"

"That I drank too much that if affected my judgement?" Elizabeth suggested.

"Okay, let's all agree that alcohol was in your system. But this is us you're talking to, Lizzy. We both know that you're not the type of person to nearly kiss someone and have it not mean anything." Jane pointed out.

Jane had a valid point. Even before she met David and married him, Elizabeth wasn't the type of person to sleep around, kiss a stranger or two. She had always been the type of girl that wanted intimacy and connection. Commitment and love. Her sisters knew her too well for her to even try to deny that her near kiss with Will the night before was nothing and the result of too much alcohol consumption.

"I'm not ready for another relationship. I don't even know if I want anything with Will." She admitted quietly.

"But you like him, that much is clear." Lydia said softly.

"I don't know," Elizabeth groaned, "It isn't an ideal situation."

"Why not?" Jane asked.

"Number one: I'm getting divorced which isn't finalised yet. Number two: he's my boss. Number three: There's a child involved, and I don't want it to get messy." Elizabeth replied.

"So maybe not right now…but maybe in the future you might be open to starting something with him?" Lydia questioned.

"I think I need some time guys. Now, there's something else I need to discuss before Jane goes out with Peter."

With the matter of the night before out of the way, Elizabeth told her sisters about her divorce settlement that David had offered her and what she planned to do with the money. She told them that she wanted to give it to the twins for their futures and help them where she could with that money. Both her sisters seemed shocked at her gesture until Jane cleared her throat and ran her hands through Lucy's hair.

"Lizzy…I really appreciate what you want to do for them…but I don't know if I can accept…" Jane said breathlessly.

"I understand it's a lot to take in," Elizabeth stated, "If you want to take some time to think about my offer, it's okay."

"Are you sure that you don't want to use that money, Lizzy? There's a lot you could do with it." Lydia asked.

"I know there is. But my wages per month to look after Mia are very generous, I've already bought a car and I'm saving for a deposit on a mortgage which I should have when Christmas comes around. I don't need that money; I don't want it." Elizabeth replied.

"You may feel like that now, but what about the future when you realise you could have used that money on something? You could use it to travel, you said you never really got to do anything like that when you were married. Or what if you wanted to start your own business?" Jane suggested.

"You could start a childminding business Lizzy!" Lydia said encouragingly.

Her sisters' suggestions over what she could do with her divorce settlement made her think. She had hardly used her degree until now and she really enjoyed her job as a childminder to Mia. Starting her own childminding business was an idea that intrigued her and for a moment, she found herself deciding to think a little more about it.

"I have to admit, your idea for me to start a childminding business is intriguing." Elizabeth murmured.

"Give it some thought, Lizzy. If you still want to gift the money to Peter and Lucy, then I will think about it. But I want you to really consider this idea. This could be the start of a future for you." Jane stated.

"But I don't want to use David's money to start the next chapter of my life." Elizabeth sighed.

"It isn't David's money, Lizzy. It's yours from being entitled to it for being married to him. Stop thinking of it as David's."

But before any more discussion on the subject could be said, footsteps of an excited four-year-old boy came rushing down the stairs dressed for the spending the day with his mother.

ooOoo

Will sat his in his study, one hand holding a lukewarm cup of coffee whilst the other hand held down the mouse as he flicked through the emails that showed up on his computer screen. But his focus wasn't on his emails nor his drink. His mind was racing through the events of the previous night and between scolding himself for nearly crossing the line and not keeping his feelings in check and guilt for putting his employee in a situation she shouldn't have been put in, he felt disappointed with himself.

Elizabeth had rushed out of the door and he didn't know whether he should text her or call her and ask to meet so he could apologise for putting her into that situation. He decided against it, he didn't think it would be best to talk to her if he didn't know what he was going to say.

And what was he supposed to say in this situation? That he liked her against his better judgement. He wasn't supposed to like her the way he did. He wasn't supposed to want her in every way possible when he was paying her for the job of looking after his child. He wasn't supposed to have feelings for the woman he paid to care for Mia, especially when he knew that Mia had a bond with said childminder.

But before he could do anymore thinking on the subject, there was a tiny tap of knuckles on his office door. He looked up and smiled as he saw his daughter standing in the doorway, still dressed in her pyjamas.

"Have you had breakfast?" Will asked.

Mia nodded, brushing her curly hair out of her face.

"What's the matter, dad?" she asked.

"Nothing sweetheart. I just did something silly." Will replied.

Mia walked over to him and stood next to him.

"Was it bad? Are you in trouble?" she asked in concern.

"I didn't break the law darling, don't worry."

"I know you wouldn't dad. You know the law."

"That's right. But sometimes grown ups make mistakes and those mistakes can sometimes make friendships end and in this case, I don't want that to happen." Will explained.

"Did you hurt Uncle Charlie's feelings? Or his sister's?" Mia asked.

"Not Uncle Charlie…hang on…why are you asking about Caroline?" Will asked quickly, frowning.

Mia had only met Caroline a handful of times and he made it a point not to discuss his best friend's sister in front of his daughter. After Natalie had died, Caroline had asked him out to dinner as friends to take his mind off his wife's death and whilst Caroline had seen it as a date and tried to make a move on him, he had firmly put Caroline in her place. He had always known that Caroline had fancied him, or rather fancied the life his family's money could provide if he would marry her. But he had always made it rather clear to Caroline that he didn't see her in that way. After putting Caroline firmly in her place that night of their dinner together, he had informed Charles of the incident and made it clear that any events he and Mia were to attend that Charles was hosting, Caroline would not be near his daughter for fear of the woman's efforts to win him over. He had witnessed first hand Caroline's awful attempts to come between him and Natalie during the early stages of their relationship and for the most part he was able to avoid having anything to do with Caroline – but knowing the type of person that Caroline was, he suspected that she would try and get closer to him by using his daughter.

Mia went quiet, her eyes diverting to the computer screen as if there was something more interesting on the screen. Will took hold of his daughter's hand and squeezed it reassuringly, bringing her gaze back to his.

"Mia?" Will pressed softly.

His daughter took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"She…she works at my school…teaching assistant…she's been…asking me stuff about you…about us…telling me…she wants us to be family…" Mia said, her voice full of fear.

Will frowned.

"Okay…I'll deal with this…is there anything else?" he asked.

Mia nodded.

"She…said that it would be great if she were my new mum…that I could go to a posh school…that she would look after you while I was sent away…she said you would be glad to have me gone…that you think a posh school would be best for me because I wouldn't be around riff raff…"

Will felt the blood in veins becoming hotter as rage set through him.

"Is this why you've been a little upset at school?"

Mia nodded again.

"And were you really ill yesterday?"

Mia shook her head, a tear falling down her cheek which Will wiped away with his thumb.

"Dad…please don't send me away…I don't want to go anywhere…I want to stay here with you…with Alice…and with Lizzy…" Mia pleaded.

"You're not going anywhere!" Will promised fiercely.

Mia threw her arms around his neck and he held her tightly as his arms wrapped around her protectively. Knowing the reason was Caroline as to why his daughter had been acting strangely at home and in school made him angry. But he was determined to deal with the matter as soon as he could. When his daughter felt a little calmer, Mia looked at him again with a worried frown.

"Are you cross with me?" she whispered.

"No sweetheart. You aren't the one who has done something wrong." He whispered back.

"What are you going to do?" Mia asked.

"First I'm going to call Uncle Charlie. Next, I'm going to email your headteacher and request a meeting. This will get sorted and she won't ever speak to you about these things again. I promise you, Mia, that none of the things she said will ever happen." Will replied.

Sharing another hug, Will lifted Mia on to his lap and held her close as he quickly went through his emails: deleting the ones that weren't important and leaving the ones that were unread; he would return to them later. For now, he had made the decision to sort out the Caroline issue and then spend the day with his daughter. Mia needed him right now, everything else could wait.

"Dad, can I ask you something?" Mia asked curiously.

"Anything." Will stated softly.

"Do you think we could build our family one day?"

Will looked at his daughter curiously.

"What do you mean?" he asked her.

"Well…I like that it's me and you and Alice…but sometimes I think there's something missing…"

"Like your mother?"

Mia shrugged.

"I don't really remember mum. Her face gets blurry if I try and remember. I have to look at pictures to remember." His daughter said quietly.

"Your mother loved you so much. It was unfair that she was taken from us when you were so young." Will muttered.

"You tell me stuff all the time, dad. I know mum loved me. But sometimes I get a little sad that I can't make stuff for Mother's Day like the other kids at school get to." Mia said sadly.

"You always make that stuff for me." Will reminded her with a smile.

"I know. But sometimes I want someone to take care of you like mum used to. Sometimes I get sad that you might be lonely."

"I'll be fine, sweetheart." Will said reassuringly.

"You can't be on your own forever." Mia sighed.

"And I won't be. I have you." Will smiled.

"What about Lizzy?"

Ah. There he froze. His heart started beating rapidly against his chest with panic. Had Mia been spying last night? Had she seen something between him and Elizabeth that she wasn't supposed to have seen? He had believed that everyone had been asleep when he and Elizabeth had returned to the house last night.

Will cleared his throat before he spoke.

"What about Elizabeth?" he asked.

"She likes us. She likes you. We spend a lot of time with her." Mia replied with a smile.

"She's a nice person."

"Dad…if you wanted to love Lizzy…it would be okay…"

Leaving him to think their conversation over, Mia got up from her father's lap and walked out of the study and along to her bedroom. Will wasn't sure what he was going to do but knowing that Mia would be okay if he decided to pursue Elizabeth one day made him feel a lot better.