Caroline and Flora had been living with Gillian on the farm for most of the last month. It was cramped even though Caroline had left the majority of her clothes behind. Flora had moved into Raff's old bedroom, which Caroline also treated as a dressing room as she needed the space for her work clothes. Flora had settled in well and loved playing with Calamity on the days they were together. Gillian had suggested that she look after both girls, but Caroline knew that looking after two toddlers was a full time job and Gillian wouldn't get any of her work done, so Flora went to childcare three days a week and spent two days with Greg while Caroline worked.

On Tuesday nights Greg brought Flora home and stayed for dinner. Gillian's and Caroline's house was now full of love and laughter and this attracted various family members who were always popping in. The house was so constantly full that they'd had to make it common knowledge that there were to be no visitors between 5pm and 6.30pm during the week, the busy time with a toddler, and on Sundays before 11am. Mostly this was about having some downtime from other people and obligations, but their reputation for screwing like bunnies had spread through the family and so everyone left them alone during these times, horrified by the thought they might actually catch them in flagrante delicto.

Caroline had found that Gillian had a weakness for her when she was dressed in her work clothes and if they were alone, Gillian would pounce as soon as she appeared. It wasn't that Gillian couldn't control herself, but more that Caroline found herself succumbing so quickly to Gillian's charms that her meagre resolve disappeared completely. This was fun in the afternoons and had lead to many an entertaining welcome home. It was less fun in the mornings when she was trying to get ready for work, so Caroline had taken to dressing in Flora's room just before leaving, and then bolting from the house in her stilettos like her arse was on fire. Of course, there were also the days when Flora wasn't home and Caroline would sashay past Gillian, waiting to be caught.

All the fantastic s*x she was having had definitely improved Caroline's mood. Even's Celia's barbs were more likely to fly past, much to Celia's chagrin. Celia would try to deepen any cracks in the Caroline/Gillian foundations but Caroline would often have this dreamy expression on her face and respond with "Sure Mum. Whatever you say," knowing that it would drive her mother nuts. It had been a very effective campaign when the two of them were alone.

Gillian had worked out that the discussion of lesbian s*x was Celia's Achilles heel, and brought it up whenever Celia was being a pill. It gave her great satisfaction. Once Caroline had got past the embarrassment of constantly being referred to as great at shagging, it offered her no end of spiteful joy at her mother's discomfort, although she couldn't quite bring herself to use the same tactics. Caroline did wonder if Gillian would finally drive her mother into homophobia rehab with it though.

Alan had taken a more direct approach, dragging Celia along to the local chapter of PFLAG in Halifax. One of the women had been posh enough for Celia to like and she was helping to lay the groundwork for change. Celia was still clutching primly to her archaic views while trying in vain to keep her mouth shut, lest she offend Alan, or Gillian too much on the rare occasions she came to the farm. She'd said something about Gillian's mucky past two weeks ago and had, after a fairly vicious slanging match, become aware that it was Gillian she had to watch out for, and not her daughter. She didn't really expect Caroline to stand up for her mum, but Celia was disconcerted to find that during this verbal onslaught Caroline had stood next to Gillian with a smug expression on her face, one hand on her hip and the other on Gillian's shoulder. Celia felt like the ground was shifting under her feet and it was a most unpleasant experience.

During the last three weeks, Sunday lunch had become the time the family came together. It started as an ad hoc invitation to Raff, Ellie and Calamity, and had somehow blossomed into a regular event in the family calendar. Greg started joining the family lunch too last Sunday and as that freed Caroline from the journey to Manchester in the afternoon, she considered it a welcome relief now she was so busy at work.

Sunday had sped around again. Lawrence's rugby team had a rare bye so he had the whole weekend free and William had come to Gillian's to help him study for his English and history exams. The usual carping between the boys was irritating but provided Caroline with a sense of home that was not about place. She loved having her boys with her again.

While the boys worked on Lawrence's exam preparation in the lounge, Caroline spent the morning cooking in the kitchen. Gillian looked after Flora, taking Flora around the farm while she fed the chooks and checked the sheep with her trusty canine. Caroline loved how good Gillian was with Flora and Calamity; it was obvious why Raff was such a thoughtful, gentle soul, despite the genetic inheritance from his father.

Celia popped in just after 11am for a cup of tea with Caroline, while Alan joined Gillian and Flora outside for a chat. Raff and Ellie arrived with Calamity and Harry and fabulous chaos ensued. Greg turned up at noon and delighted in keeping the two young girls thoroughly entertained with his wild adventure stories. Caroline smiled at the pleasure of hearing the happy sounds of her family, the contentment spreading to her bones.

Celia was sitting at the kitchen table, waxing lyrical about the cottage she and Alan had seen in Holywell Green, only a 15 minute drive from Halifax. Single storey, which suited Alan's heart and Celia's knees, it was the right size and in the right price range.

"We put in an offer on Friday, so we're hopeful. It has a lovely view over the valley and a delightful back yard. It's right on the main street, but it's such a little village I don't mind that. It's very sweet really."

"That sounds great. When do you think you'll hear from them?" Caroline was crossing her fingers for them to get it. She loved waking up every morning next to Gillian, but living in this tiny house, without all her things, was driving her bonkers.

"Monday we think. We've offered the asking price so unless they get another offer over the weekend, we should be right."

"Great. I'm sure you're looking forward to your new home." Caroline was dishing up a stew for Raff and Ellie to take home with them. "And if you got it, any idea when you might be moving?"

Celia paused, trying to gauge Caroline's subtext from her tone of voice. "Possibly another month or so, depending on settlement. Why?"

"Well, I'd like my house back." Caroline looked directly at her mother.

"There's no reason you can't come back. I'd love to see more of little Flora. I miss her, you know. I don't see why you're still living here...with her."

"I know you miss Flora, Mum. I'm sure, however, that you don't miss Gillian sleeping over. Do you." Caroline knew this was still a sore spot for her mum.

Neither had noticed that Gillian had come into the house, slipping her work boots off by the back door and walking quietly into the kitchen.

"Yeah, Celia. You know we like having noisy s*x, loud enough to drown out a storm."

Caroline snorted.

Celia blanched at this. She hated being reminded of that night during the storm.

"So it would be great for you to have your own place. Then we'd have two houses to play in." Gillian leered at Caroline, who was having trouble containing her laughter.

"So many rooms..."

Gillian was just toying with her now, Celia knew. She stood up quickly, taking her hand off the table like it was contaminated.

"You two...just disgraceful."

"Yep. That's us." Caroline laughed and leaned into Gillian for a kiss.

Alan and Raff burst into the kitchen. Raff was now so used to seeing his mum and Caroline kissing that he didn't even blink.

"Lunch nearly ready? We're starving, Caroline." Raff piped up.

"Not long. Ellie, would you like to carve? The lamb's been resting for a few minutes so should be ready to carve." Caroline smiled warmly at Gillian before moving to pick up the oven mitts to take the roast vegetables out of the oven.

The house was bursting with people as everyone piled into the kitchen. Caroline made the gravy, Gillian served the vegetables, Ellie carved and Raff set the table. William and Lawrence joined in the discussion of the local football teams, and the kitchen filled with warmth, flowing over to Celia standing in the corner talking with Harry and Calamity. The sniping forgotten for now, the Sunday lunch was a happy event.

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Everyone had gone by 3 o'clock, leaving Gillian and Caroline in peace for the afternoon. By 4 o'clock Gillian had escaped outside to change the oil and spark plugs in one of the tractors as the weather was fine and she relished the chance to catch up on some of her chores.

Caroline prepared two cups of tea and a plate of biscuits, knowing that Gillian would be peckish by now. She walked outside with the tray, wondering which tractor, and where, when she heard a quiet "Shit" from one of the sheds. She smiled to herself and headed in that direction.

Peeking around the door she found Gillian bent over the front tyre of the tractor, trying to reach something in the belly of the engine. Lit by the shaft of light from the skylight, all Caroline could think of was the beautiful shape of Gillian's arse. It really was magnificent. Firm, round, delicious. Caroline could almost feel the skin under her hands, the soft skin moving over the rippling musculature beneath it. She was imagining the shapes that fine arse would be making underneath the baggy blue overalls as Gillian moved.

Gillian couldn't believe her luck, to find someone who found the right balance between hard and soft, give and take, between control and consent. She couldn't believe how much she loved this woman. Her love seemed to forever expand into the spaces they made for each other. The tears started falling down her face, her heart cracking open at the possibilities of forever with this woman, while Caroline held her gently in her arms.

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Folks, the missing 1000 words are fairly explicit, so do go to the M-rated version on FanFictiondotnet, or archive of our own dot org for the full versions of this chapter. The title and author details are the same.