AN: Hi folks, thank you all so much once again for reading/reviewing/following/favouriting this story - it means a lot to me that you're all enjoying it so far and your support/feedback is very much appreciated. Special thanks goes out to those of you who reviewed as guests who I couldn't thank via PM :)

As always huge thanks must also go out to: Ltlconf (I have so many ideas and you help to keep them focused and true), PermanentProblem, ILoveXmas and BlindMoose for your wonderful conversation, advice, endless support and most importantly for encouraging me to write this sequel and all of the other stories that come into my mind, the ones that make sense at least! :)

As usual I find myself apologising for the long delay between chapters. I will confess that this chapter gave me some unexpected problems - I wasn't sure how to match up with the pace of the opening chapters and had no clue how to connect all of my ideas together. Fortunately my muse cooperated in the end and she came through for me in a way I wasn't expecting, for this certainly wasn't what I had in mind for this chapter. I quite like it though and it adds something to the story that I think my original plan lacked so I hope that you all enjoy it. I've been struggling a little with the pace of this story as I say but I think this works well.

This chapter is unbeta'd and so there are bound to be some mistakes - give me a shout if you spot any and I'll do my best to fix them. I proofread and edit a lot before posting each chapter but there's always something that I miss... oh and please forgive me if some of my technical info is out on the cars mentioned throughout the story - I did do my research but I'm not a mechanic or anything and some details may not be accurate so please take that into account when reading.

Thank you for reading

Jaxx

...

One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.

Euripides

…

Friends in Unexpected Quarters

…

'Damn!'

'Tell me about it…'

'She really asked that?'

Jo could feel the raging blush that found its way onto her cheeks, she seemed to be doing that a lot recently, and it made her all the more thankful that she was obscured from Buzz' view underneath the body of Anderson's 1967 Maserati Ghibli. She wasn't sure why she was telling her friend about Blair's encounter with Monica the previous night in such detail but he was one of her closest childhood friends and she trusted him.

'You're blushin ain't ya Polniaczek?' Buzz' amusement was all too evident and Jo instantly regretted telling him anything but it was too late now.

'I don't know what yer talkin 'bout…'

'Plausible deniability pal… I know yer blushin…'

'You did not just play the 'plausible deniability' card…'

Jo threw herself out from underneath the car, ready to give her friend a piece of her mind, in doing so however she'd proven him correct in his assumption, a fact she realised only after she was face to face with him.

'Damn Jo, I ain't never known ya ta get bashful 'bout this stuff before…'

'Buzz I swear if ya don't stop…'

'Oh man! You two ain't done it yet have ya? That's why ya look like…'

'Finish that sentence and you'll be wearin' that wrench as a fashion accessory… permanently…'

Buzz chuckled but stopped his teasing. Jo was too easy to wind up sometimes but discretion was the better part of valour and so his teasing tone soon eased into genuine sympathy for Jo's plight. This thing with Blair's mother had really gotten under her skin. He couldn't blame her for being worried; Monica Warner was an influential woman in her own right. Besides nobody wanted to be on the wrong side of their girlfriend's mother, even if sometimes it was inevitable.

'I'm sorry pal, I'm just surprised is all… hell ya share a room – I figured you'd have jumped one another the second ya were alone!'

'Jeez Buzz, I don't believe you…'

'Don't tell me ye've gone all romantic on me pal!'

'Ya know… they're pourin' the concrete for a new mall downtown…'

'I ain't lookin fer a new pair of boots Jo…' Buzz said holding his hands up in mock surrender.

It wasn't an apology but it was as good as she was going to get and Jo knew that her friend was playing around – it was something they did and when he'd started dating Gloria she'd been just as relentless in her teasing. It was her turn to shrug as she returned to her place beneath the car examining the chassis carefully.

'So how's it look?'

'Not bad… but we gotta do somethin about the suspension, reckon it'd be an idea ta replace the springs, she's got too much drag on the left…'

'Not bad at all… I can get some springs from Mike's…'

'Ya reckon ya could get some paint too?'

'Hey, this is me yer talkin ta, course I can get paint… whatever ya need pal…'

'Great. Best of all this baby is a stick shift, the gear box feels good as new…'

'I ain't seen a Ghibli with a manual gearbox before…'

'They all got manual gearboxes…' she rolled her eyes even though he couldn't see her face beneath the car 'apart from the specials they're automatic if ya customise 'em… How many people you know could afford this car, even second hand?'

'True. Man I'd love ta own this, she's a beauty…'

Once again Jo was out from underneath the car, her overall sleeves rolled up to her elbows as she and Buzz started inspecting the engine more closely. They were both covered in grease and oil but neither of them cared, that was part of the fun. Anderson had dropped the car off that morning, telling Jo to take her time, he wasn't in a hurry but she was determined to make a start. The sooner she restored the three cars, the sooner she'd have repaid her debt, and that would make her feel a lot better. Besides she couldn't resist, she loved cars and this one was pretty special.

'So what're ya gonna do 'bout Blair's mom?'

'Not much I can do, just gotta hope she don't persuade Blair ta split up with me…'

'You really think Blair's gonna do that? After everythin you two have been through?'

'I hope not, but her mom's right, I ain't exactly got prospects…'

Buzz was incredulous and his incredulity made him even more animated as he stood up from the engine and began punctuating each point with a wave of the wrench in his right hand.

'You did not just say that Jo! Christ look at ya – ya were Valedictorian at Eastland, yer on a scholarship ta Langley, ya got plenty o' 'prospects'. Besides Blair's crazy 'bout ya, she ain't gonna give ya up on the say so of her mom… ya got nothin ta worry 'bout…'

'I just can't shake the feelin somethin bad's gonna happen…'

Buzz knew that Jo's instincts were good - it was part of what made her such a good leader when she was with the Diablos. He hoped that she was wrong and that this situation with Blair's mom just had her mind working overtime but he decided to remain quiet on the subject. He knew she'd only get frustrated that he wasn't taking her fears seriously. He understood where she was coming from but she was overthinking things, all that mattered was how she and Blair felt – the rest of the world could go to hell, it wasn't their business.

'You tell her yet?'

'Tell her what?'

'You know… 'bout the Academy…'

'Shhh… jeez I ain't had a chance yet… I'm not sure what I'm gonna do 'bout it…'

'Ya mean ya changed yer mind 'bout it?'

Buzz couldn't believe his ears. It was all they'd talked about for the last few months. Becoming cops was their shared dream. They'd seen so much destruction in their neighbourhood, hell they'd been involved in so much of it that they wanted, needed the chance to make things right. If they could just stop one kid from going down that route…

'No…I wanna be a cop more than anythin, especially now… but I ain't sure how ta tell Blair…'

'Think she'd try n stop ya?'

'No… I think she'll have a hard time dealin with it though. I can't see her bein thrilled at the idea…'

'Ya gotta talk ta her pal… she won't appreciate ya keepin it from her…'

'I know… but I got time, I don't graduate for a coupla years…'

'Don't wait too long ta tell her pal, Blair deserves better than that…'

'Soon as the paperwork comes through I'll tell her…'

…

Blair loved helping Mrs. Garrett bake; Sundays were a more relaxing day for them all and she often found herself spending time in the kitchen with her guardian, especially now that she didn't have to pretend to be 'boy crazy'. It was wonderful to be accepted for who she truly was and not have to worry about not living up to society's 'expectations'. She only wished that her mother could see things that way. She wasn't sure what her mother intended to do about it – after all she couldn't stop her from seeing Jo, and with her father's support there was no longer the fear of being disinherited. At least not from her father's side of the estate, by far the larger of the two.

Then again her mother was a wealthy woman in her own right, coming from old money of the 'highest calibre' as she had been careful to stress when she'd discovered that Blair was a lesbian all those years ago, and could decide to cut her off completely from her share of her beloved grandfather's estate, something that she wasn't entitled to until the day of her 25th birthday or the day of her marriage – whichever occurred first. Since marriage was now out of the question, at least in the eyes of 'society' and the law, that meant she had until her 25th birthday to convince her mother to accept her as she was or lose her inheritance - her mother was the trustee until that time. Losing it wouldn't do much damage financially but God how it would hurt to be rejected in such a way. Despite his flaws and his unsavoury connections only recently revealed, Blair had adored her grandfather and been devastated by his death, she felt that he had understood her in a way that her mother simply didn't. She was sure he would have liked Jo; he appreciated people who spoke their mind. Then again he probably wouldn't have approved of the nature of their love either. In some ways he was very old fashioned, just like her mother. Blair loved her mother; she didn't want to lose her. She wanted to be accepted by her. She needed her mother to accept Jo as her father did. She didn't know how she could make her see just how happy Jo made her, how loved and safe she felt with her. She sighed; she probably would never convince her mother that the love she and Jo shared was real. She had to be thankful that at least her father understood. She hadn't expected that, when she had revealed her feelings for Jo she had fully expected to lose both of her parents and everything that came with the Warner name. Truthfully she was relieved that she hadn't but once she'd realised that Jo felt the same way about her she'd known that she'd willingly give up everything she held dear if she had to, to make things work between them. A love like theirs was worth the risk.

Sunday was the only day that Edna's Edible's didn't open, that way they all had a well-deserved break. Peekskill was pretty sleepy on a Sunday, with the exception of church outings there wasn't much going on in the town. Even the arcade stayed closed until well into the evening. Up until a few years ago it hadn't opened at all but things were finally starting to change in that respect thanks to some petitioning from the student population. Now there were some cafes and stores that opened but for the most part people took advantage of the peacefulness afforded them by the fact that the aforementioned student population were still recovering from the excesses of the night before to recharge their batteries before the week ahead. Sometimes it was hard to believe that this sleepy little College town was part of New York, but that was its charm. It was one of the reasons Blair loved it so much, that and the fact it had led her to her Eastland family and more importantly to Jo…

'Will you be going to your father's for Christmas Blair?'

'I haven't decided yet, so much has happened recently…'

'And you want to stay with Jo…'

Blair's cheeks flushed but her smile was wide. Mrs. Garrett could read her so well sometimes; it was almost as if the older woman were her mother. She wished her own mother had half the patience and understanding that her guardian had. If she did then perhaps she'd realise that Blair couldn't just switch off her feelings, she couldn't deny who she was and she wasn't about to. She'd lost so much time in hiding her feelings for Jo; she wished her mother could understand that.

'I do… oh Mrs. Garrett sometimes it feels like a dream… I'm afraid that if I go away…'

'The dream will be over?'

'I know that sounds stupid…'

'It doesn't sound stupid at all honey… it's only natural to feel that way, but a few days over Christmas won't change things between you…'

'No but my mother might…' the bitterness in her voice sounded unnatural from the normally optimistic young woman.

'Oh sweetheart, give her time…'

'Time is the last thing she needs. She understands perfectly Mrs. Garrett, she just doesn't care. It's not part of her plan for me and that's angering her more than anything. The whole thing's really got Jo spooked – she hasn't said anything but I know when something's playing on her mind… it's like she thinks…' Blair's voice cracked a little and she stopped, unwilling to give voice to what she knew Jo feared.

Mrs. Garrett wiped her flour covered hands on her apron before pulling her young friend into a hug. She'd always thought of the four girls under her charge as the daughters she'd never had and she knew that they looked to her as a second mother. Blair especially looked to her for motherly guidance and the older woman had always stepped up when needed.

'Jo doesn't think anything of the sort, not really. She knows you love her, but she's worried and she isn't the only one…'

'I'm just not sure what my mother's going to do Mrs. Garrett…'

'No matter what she does, as long as you two remain open and honest with one another you'll be fine…'

'I hope so… I really love her Mrs. Garrett…'

'And she loves you Blair, I believe she always has.'

…

The smell of freshly baked banana cake and the irresistible aroma of coconut cupcakes brought Jo into the kitchen from the garage just as Blair had known that it would. Tootie and Natalie had been unable to resist either, and having raided the kitchen only moments earlier were now sitting in the living room, with Mrs. Garrett, happily munching their way through a large slice of banana cake each.

'If you want some cake you'd better go and get washed up first…'

Jo expected such a remark to come from Mrs. Garrett but whirled round at the sound of her girlfriend. She'd thought that everyone would be in the living room already and had figured she'd be able to grab some cake for herself and Buzz before anyone noticed.

'Ya gotta be kiddin babe… I'm only gonna grab a coupla cupcakes and…'

'You're not eating in the garage Joey, even if it's only a cupcake…'

'Oh fer…'

'Language…' this time she couldn't suppress her smirk as she said it.

Jo, seeing the smirk on the blonde's face grinned in response and without warning wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace, hands wandering just enough, kissing her soundly before pulling back, kissing her cheek and then stepping back to gaze into heated brown eyes.

'Gee babe, guess you better go get washed up too…'

Blair knew she should have been mad; the oil stains would never come out of her blouse and her perfect make up was undoubtedly ruined but seeing the playfulness mixed with something untamable in Jo's beautiful eyes made her weak at the knees. They had promised to wait for the perfect moment but it was getting harder to hold back…

'Hey Jo! Ya gotta see this; I think there's a crack in the heat shield…' Buzz' voice echoed from the garage and the spell was broken.

Then Jo was grabbing a couple of cupcakes from the counter and heading for the door out to the garage. Just as she reached the doorway she turned and took a large bite from one of the cupcakes triumphantly, winking at her princess. Blair couldn't stop herself from smiling widely and shaking her head at her delinquent's antics. One day they'd get their timing right.

…

Blair added the finishing touches to her hair as she rushed downstairs and answered the phone, fully expecting it to be her mother once again. In fact she'd been so certain it would be that she had shooed her younger roommates from the room, much to their annoyance, in case things got heated once again. Discretion dictated that such an argument be had out of the earshot of others where possible, even if in reality they could still hear every word. She braced herself for the oncoming onslaught as she picked up but the voice on the line was the last person she expected and for a moment she wasn't sure what to say.

'Warnsie… Boots…'

Boots? Why was she calling here? This could be bad, very bad. She was glad that she'd managed to shoo her roommates out of the living room. If she was going to be expelled from Gamma Gamma she didn't require an audience.

'Hello Boots, how are you?' Confident, polite, the best way to cover her nerves.

'Oh just fine darling… now are you still available for our little fundraiser on Friday?'

Fundraiser? Boots was calling to ask about the fundraiser? Many of the other girls, especially those in the Sorority, she'd once considered friends had been less than thrilled by her new relationship with Jo and she'd assumed Boots would be exactly the same… Blair had been certain her friend wouldn't want her anywhere near such an important charity event - a ball designed to entice upstanding members of Society to part with their cash in order to give poor, vulnerable, orphans hope for a few short hours each Christmas. It was one of the most important events on the Gamma Gamma Christmas calendar and Blair had been helping Boots to organise it for months, everything had to be perfect if they wanted to match, perhaps even surpass the donations from the previous year. Blair had been devastated at the thought that she would no longer be involved in the fundraising for the orphanage, she often visited the children to read them stories and help them with their homework, something that many in her social circle admired even as they misunderstood her motivation for doing so.

'Of course… I wasn't sure if you'd still want me to…'

'Why wouldn't I?' she seemed genuinely puzzled and took a few minutes before it dawned on her what Blair was getting at 'Oh this thing you have with Jo? Why should that make a difference?'

'It's not a 'thing' Boots…'

'Of course Warnsie, I know it's not, it's merely a turn of phrase. But again why should it change things?'

Blair wasn't sure how to respond to the matter of fact Boots St Clair. She'd been certain that the eccentric Sorority girl would ditch her as soon as was polite. In fact she had been avoiding her for the better part of a week, staying as far from the Sorority as she possibly could so that she didn't have to face the humiliation of a confrontation, now it seemed she had completely misjudged her friend. Boots was as weird and unpredictable as ever. It was wonderful.

'Who you choose to sleep with is frankly nobody's business but yours Warnsie despite the apparent interest it seems to have sparked in the general populace, my aunt Bessie wore sensible shoes too, though she lived in Europe of course but times are changing and discretion is no longer necessary… and after the way Brock Worthington treated you… I'd say Jo is a marked improvement, even if she has a tendency to behave like a Neanderthal sometimes…'

'Your aunt Bessie does what? Never mind I think I understand… Boots…'

This conversation was taking one of those bizarre turns that only Boots St Clair was capable of creating. Blair pinched the bridge of her nose as she waited for her friend to stop talking. It really was very sweet, at least it seemed to be.

'I'm not saying that's a bad thing Warnsie… it's just her way…I understand the appeal, even if she's not a man. I'm surprised you two didn't get together sooner... Bring her along on Friday if you like; we could use all the help we can get. After all it's the Christmas appeal and the more we make the better for those poor orphans…'

'I'll talk to Jo. What time do you need us to be there?'

A wonderfully familiar voice behind her startled her, distracting her momentarily from Boots' 'instructions'.

'You'll talk ta me 'bout what?'

Blair placed her finger to her lips gesturing to Jo to 'shush', Jo less than amused at being shushed but curious enough to be patient stepped closer to her, slipping her arms around her waist and resting her head on the blonde's shoulder in an attempt to distract her further. The brunette smelled of soap, cologne, fresh mint and a subtle almost untraceable hint of motor oil, scents that Blair realised were distinctly Jo and she found herself having to concentrate much harder on the conversation at hand.

'The ball starts at 7pm, if you could be there to help set up…'

'We'll be there as early as we can, I'll have to speak to Mrs. Garrett…'

'Of course, Mrs Garrett is catering the event for us as arranged… though this time I looked over the menu personally… and Blair… you will make sure Jo dresses… appropriately… won't you? I'm not saying she has to wear a dress or heels… though of course that would be good form… but something that isn't camouflage or denim would be…'

'Boots…'

'I know, I know, she's your beau my dear I'm sure she'll look divine whatever you choose for her… But this is of course your first 'event' together; your debut… first impressions and all that… must dash… Ciao!'

After hanging up the phone Blair turned in her delinquent's arms. Jo was looking at her curiously, a hint of suspicion in her expression.

'That was Boots…'

'Oh no! No way… I ain't catering any snobbo event…'

'Actually Mrs Garrett is catering this particular fundraiser…'

'A fundraiser… oh Blair I hate those things…'

'I know you do but…'

'But Boots asked ya ta go…'

Jo could feel it happening before she had a chance to stop herself. She knew that she was going to end up giving in and going to this snobby fundraiser, just because Blair wanted to go. She would hold out as long as she could but in the end she knew she'd end up going along if that's what Blair wanted. She had never been able to deny the debutante anything, even when they'd just been friends.

'Oh Joey… I really thought she'd stop me from going along to these Sorority fundraisers now… I can't say no it's for the orphanage…'

'So what... ya need me ta give ya a ride there and back? I can handle that...'

'You know that's not what I want…'

'I dunno Blair; I ain't good at these things…'

'Please Joey… It's important, think about those poor children; besides this is our chance to show everyone we're together… our debut…'

'Debut? That sounds kinda heavy duty…'

'What will it take to convince you?'

Before Jo could even think of a response Blair captured her lips in a kiss designed to persuade and convince in equal measures. By the time the kiss ended Jo knew she was done for, she'd do anything Blair asked of her and more but what a way to be convinced. Blair's kisses were worth fighting a war for; she could handle a few snobs for a night if it meant more of the same upon their return home.

'Alright… but I ain't wearin a dress…'

'I don't expect you to if you don't want to sweetheart but I do expect you to look ravishing…'

'I'll see what I can do…'

'Thank you Joey… This means more than you know…'

'I got a fair idea of how important it is to ya babe. But if we're doin this 'debut' then we're doin it right… like a proper date.'

'Of course… although I'll still be helping with the fundraising'

Jo could live with that, Blair wouldn't be Blair if she wasn't helping those in need. She'd always had a kind heart, even if sometimes she hid it well.

'I'll get changed at Buzz' place and pick ya up…'

'You don't have to…'

'We do this right or not at all babe…'

'Agreed sweetheart, but we can't go to a fundraiser on the back of your motorcycle…'

'Let me worry 'bout transportation baby, you don't gotta worry 'bout a thing… I got all week ta prepare…'