A/N So here it is - the plan to stop Lorena poisoning Amelia. Peppermintyrose, I hope you like it!

Disclaimer: Characters are not mine.

SPOV

Wednesday morning I was out of bed early as I had to get moving to get myself to the hairdressers. It was hard wriggling my way out from under Eric though. I was getting addicted to having him sleep on me all night, and I was starting to think that maybe breathing was over-rated. I would have much rather stayed in bed and cuddled some more. He'd been surprisingly OK with no sex while I'd had my period. Maybe he did really like me?

Unfortunately a 9.30am hairdresser's appointment waits for no woman, and I had to get Amelia and Felicia out the door with me. My hairdresser's was near Tara's so she was having Felicia for me while I was there.

So I just about had everyone ready when Eric appeared from the bathroom. He may have been OK with the lack of sex, but I did notice he was getting increasingly gropey, as he pretty soon had me pressed up against the kitchen bench. He gave me a rather passionate kiss, then just stood there absent-mindedly rubbing my bum. He sighed, murmured "I really like these pants", and then wandered off to make coffee. I hadn't yet got myself changed to go out so I was wearing my old yoga pants. I couldn't figure out what was to like about them. Men are odd sometimes.

EPOV

This whole no sex thing was wearing a bit thin. I hoped to fuck Sookie's period was over soon. It's not that I couldn't go a few nights without sex, it's just that sleeping all night next to Sookie, who was so warm and soft and downright fuckable, just brought home what I was missing out on. I was almost glad I was showering alone because it was becoming pretty obvious I was going to have to take care of myself.

It didn't mean I didn't want to take every opportunity I could to touch Sookie though. She was wearing those stretchy pants again which hugged her ass really nicely, and felt really soft when you stroked them, almost as good as her actual skin.

Sookie apparently had an appointment at her hairdresser's so I was being left home alone. I'd offered to have Felicia, but apparently Sookie had a standing arrangement for Tara to watch her. It was probably just as well. Now she could crawl Felicia just seemed to have a death wish. You couldn't take your eyes off her for a fucking minute.

So after Sookie left I got out my laptop and started to do some research. I needed to sort out a car, as the hire one would have to go back, a phone, and a laptop. And I guessed I should probably look at places to rent, just in case. I hoped like fuck it wouldn't come to that, but it wouldn't hurt to at least give the appearance of not moving straight in with Sookie.

I also checked the trampoline website. It was the last day to order in time for Christmas. I couldn't remember if we'd come to a final decision on the trampoline. Oh well, fuck it, I thought. I placed the order. I'd tell Sookie it was on its way and worry about her reaction then. I was pretty sure she'd be on board. And of course Amelia would no doubt want Sookie to try it out too. I was really fucking looking forward to that part of Christmas day.

After a while I was getting fucking bored, and wondered how long exactly one person could spend getting their hair done. I went into the living room and stretched out on the couch and started flipping through channels. Surely there had to be something to watch?

SPOV

I love the hairdressers. It's like a mini-holiday. I just get to sit there and drink coffee and read magazines and chat to people who are really good at pretending to be interested in my life.

Only this time, I'd been stuck with a pile of Women's Weekly's to read. Ugh. There were only so many times you could read about whether or not Prince William was or wasn't going to marry Kate Middleton. Then there were the stories about various New Zealand 'celebrities' who'd done amazing things, like get married or have babies. Yeah, totally fascinating. After that you got the really trashy real-life stories.

I made it all the way through one of the Women's Weekly's while I was waiting for my colour to process, and then I gave up and went in search of something better, like a Marie-Claire.

Part-way through reading it though, I was struck with a thought, a real 'aha' moment. I knew exactly what Sophie-Anne would do. I couldn't wait to get out of there and get home to tell Eric, and then hopefully put the plan into place. That would fix Lorena.

So as soon as I was done, I headed back to Tara's to collect Felicia, who had apparently spent the morning trying to crawl under Tara's coffee table. Luckily Tara was pretty blasé about such things these days after having two kids of her own.

She had asked about Eric though that morning and I'd been vague about what was happening, I'd just said he was here for Christmas. I wasn't thinking beyond that. If I did I'd panic and I didn't think that would help anyone at this point. It felt really normal having him around, so as long as I didn't think about how fast everything was going I'd be OK. You could over-analyse this stuff, right?

So after I collected Felicia I raced home. The house was quiet and I wondered where Eric was. I found him asleep on the couch, with Bob curled up on his stomach. I was tempted to take a photo of the pair of them, but thought that might be a bit mean.

I pushed Eric's shoulder. "Hey! Wake up!" I said. "Nrgh" said Eric, but he shifted a bit and Bob jumped off in a huff.

"Wake up! I know what Sophie-Anne would do!" I was practically bursting with the need to tell someone. That got more of a reaction. Eric opened his eyes. "So, tell me, what would she do?"

I went over the plan with Eric and he helped me iron out a few details. He was actually quite devious. I made a mental note not to cross him anytime soon.

The next step was to actually put the plan into action. Firstly I called Judith on her cellphone, hoping that it was her lunch hour and she'd answer. I was in luck. I told her I was ringing to find out what they wanted for Christmas, it was a pretty flimsy excuse but she didn't seem to be that surprised.

After getting that out of the way I asked how Lorena had handled Caroline leaving.

"Oh, well, of course she's taken to bed with a migraine" said Judith. "And she wants me to pick up a prescription for her from the chemist, which is a pain in the bum as I'll have to race there after work before it shuts."

"Well I could do it if you like. I'm free this afternoon." I offered.

"Are you sure?" Judith sounded surprised, but I hoped the desire to get rid of the task would get her past any suspicions at my motives.

"Yeah, no problem. So it's the pharmacy in Mt Albert?"

That phase of the plan over with, I left Felicia with Eric and was out the door, well I was nearly out the door when Eric pulled me back for a kiss. "Good luck" he said. "Thanks" I replied. Then there was a thud and a wail and he had to go.

I got a fairly good park in Mt Albert, raced into the chemist and into the bookshop next door, and then was around at Lorena's flat in just over half an hour. "Oh, Sookie" she said, when she opened the door, obviously surprised to see me.

"Hi Lorena!" I said brightly. "I was talking to Judith and she said you were under the weather and needed a prescription collected, so I said I'd do it as I'm out and about this afternoon."

"Oh. OK. No kids with you?" she asked, moving back into the living room. I followed her in, shutting the door behind me.

"No, Amelia's at pre-school and Eric's looking after Felicia for me."

"Mmm, Eric, yes." Lorena sat down and I followed suit. "He's still staying with you then?"

"Yeah, until Christmas at least. He likes New Zealand."

"He's, um, younger than you, isn't he?"

"Yes…" I said, not really sure what she was getting at.

"Mmmm. So was my Malcolm. He was very good looking too. "Lorena fixed me with a look I couldn't read. This seemed a really odd time for her to suddenly bring up the long-departed Malcolm, and as much as I wanted to know more sordid details, I couldn't for the life of me figure out what she was getting at, other than to suggest that Eric was too good for me and I was an idiot for thinking he'd be interested in a stupid old widow like myself.

"He seemed to be getting on very well with Calvin, at the barbecue" she continued. I was really lost now, but also really keen to just get on with my plan, which was at the risk of being side-tracked totally.

"Well I guess they're both, um, foreigners. Anyway, here's your prescription. And seeing as you're not well I also bought you a Women's Weekly, that is what you read, isn't it?" I handed both items over.

"Oh, yes, it is. Thank you Sookie" she almost sounded sincere.

"It's quite good, isn't it? The Women's Weekly? I guess you've been reading it for a while now?"

"Well…yes. I guess so."

"At one time everyone read it didn't they? So your friends, from the bowls club, they'd be the same?"

"I suppose they would."

"I was just reading one at the hairdresser's this morning. It was very good. I was particularly taken with the true life stories. You know, the ones about people who, oooh, have a baby when they don't know they're pregnant, or, um, survive an impoverished childhood and go to university. Give up drugs. That sort of thing."

Lorena just looked at me, so I continued. "I had heard" I said conspiratorially, "that they're always looking for more stories like that. And they pay very well apparently. I did wonder if perhaps I should look into doing it."

Lorena wrinkled her nose. "You?" she asked.

"Yes, you know. Talk about Bill and how sad that was, how he had a disease he just couldn't fight, but that I've be able to draw the strength I need to go on from my daughters and how I'm going to make sure their father's legacy is not lost."

I could see Lorena thinking this over, but she didn't say anything.

"Of course" I continued "they might want to know more about his, um, childhood. You know, to really understand the whole story. So I did think that maybe I could get Sarah to help out and contribute. Give some insight into what Bill was like growing up. Goodness knows, she could use the money they'd pay."

Lorena still kept quiet but her eyes widened when I mentioned Sarah. Poor, gullible Sarah who'd say anything to anyone.

"But, you know what stops me doing it today Lorena?"

"What?" she asked, rather sharply.

"The worry that my children might read it, and, I don't know, somehow get the wrong information about me and Bill. For instance, did you know that Amelia thought I'd kicked Bill out?"

Lorena shook her head no. She wasn't owning up to anything I guess, even at this point.

"She did. Who knows where a three year old gets some of her ideas?" I looked at Lorena, I knew exactly where she got that idea and so did she. "I would do anything to make sure my children weren't fed lies about their father. And journalists, well, they will bend the truth to make the story more interesting, won't they?"

"Y-yes"

"It's terrible what they do. So salacious. And P is the current in-vogue drug for all the tell-alls isn't it? Ever since Paul Holmes' daughter and her troubles. Well, she's been all over the press. So for now I won't do anything. But it is always an option."

I sat back in my chair. Lorena looked away and down. That was it; I'd finally got through to her.

"Right, well I must be going then. I hope you feel better soon Lorena. And no doubt we'll see you around at Christmas."

"Yes. Thank you Sookie. And give…give my love to Amelia and Felicia, won't you?" Lorena looked at me almost pleadingly. I knew that somewhere in there she loved them, as much as she could. But something in her had been broken long ago and she was never going to be a warm and loving grandmother.

"I will Lorena. You take care." With that I was out the door and back to my car. I couldn't wait to get home and tell Eric.

EPOV

Sookie had come back from the hairdresser's just about bouncing with excitement. She'd come up with a pretty awesome plan to warn Lorena off telling any more lies to Amelia and wanted to run it past me as a trial plan.

Sookie proved she could certainly out-bitch Sophie-Anne if she put her mind to it. I made a mental note to keep on her good side because I didn't want any of that directed at me. We went over the plan, she called Judith to get an 'in' with Lorena, and then she was off, leaving me with Felicia, who thankfully was going for a nap.

I'd already had a nap though, apparently. Sookie said she'd had to wake me up when she got home, but I'm pretty sure I only closed my eyes for a minute. Daytime TV in New Zealand was pretty fucking shocking really. I was at a bit of a loose end with Felicia asleep so I decided I'd get satellite TV installed at Sookie's while I was hanging around. I'd keep it as a surprise for Sookie. And maybe I could say it was a Christmas present. Yeah, she'd be fine.

It didn't take long to arrange though and then I was bored again. I'd been enjoying not working when I could hang out with Sookie, but when she wasn't around it was really fucking depressing. I guess this was a sign I needed to be working again. There had to be something I could do.

I thought maybe mowing the lawns would be a good idea. I went out to Sookie's garden shed and eyed the lawnmower. It wasn't electric; it was one of those ones with the stupid pull cord. I eyed it for a while before deciding that was just a recipe for a fucking disaster and going back inside.

I was getting as far as actually thinking that maybe I should vacuum when Felicia woke up. Yeah, I was totally fucking bored if stopping a baby from banging into a table was going to be the highlight of my afternoon.

SPOV

After I left Lorena's I made a quick stop at St Luke's then went and collected Amelia. I was so glad we were back to normal now, and it was actually lovely to have her chatter at me from the back of the car. Well, for about 5 minutes, then I lost the thread of her story and drifted off into patting myself on the back about Lorena.

When I got home Eric and Felicia were in the family room and he was sitting there watching her like a hawk. I'd tried to tell him he didn't have to watch her every single minute, but he panicked a bit when she knocked into things. She had to learn somehow though.

I waited until Amelia had given Eric a detailed run-down of her day in the sand-pit and wandered off to her room, and then I threw myself at him for a hug. "I did it!" I said "Ding-dong the witch is dead, and all of that! I am almost completely sure she won't be saying anything stupid to Amelia again. And next time Sophie-Anne picks on you, just tell me. I'll sort her out!"

"Yay, you. Well done." Eric said. He smiled and kissed me, it was a bloody good kiss. One you could really lose yourself in. It would have been better if we hadn't heard that dull thud and had to break apart. Maybe Eric was right about the crash-helmet?

I hadn't really planned anything for dinner, but Eric said he'd cook. I tried to say he didn't have to as he was a guest, but he just raised his eyebrows at me and I thought yeah, I guess he is past the guest stage. I wasn't really sure what he was now, but it probably wasn't a guest.

So he wandered around the kitchen for a bit opening things. I hovered and asked if he wanted help, but he said no. I went outside with the kids for a bit, and then came back. Eric seemed to have sorted out what he was doing, but he was juggling a few things. I really wanted to help. I wasn't so much worried about him ruining anything, but it's just that it's easier with two people. Well, that's what I told myself. I did once have a huge fight with Bill over the correct way to do a stir-fry, but I put that down to him more than me.

But Eric kept shooing me away, which was a bit annoying.

He was very pleased with his efforts though when he served us. He'd been through the freezer apparently and found some crumbed chicken schnitzels and the emergency mashed potatoes I never used. He'd also found the frozen peas and my emergency packet of gravy from the pantry. From what I could see in the kitchen he seemed to have made a huge mess and I wasn't quite sure how a dinner that was made entirely by heating things up had required quite so many dishes. But it was nice to have someone cook for me.

Amelia said she wasn't eating it until I pointed out Eric had cooked dinner. Then it all disappeared rather quickly. She even had gravy instead of drowning everything in tomato sauce. Maybe I'd just start telling her that Eric did all the cooking.

EPOV

Making dinner alleviated some of my boredom, although it took me a while to find something I could make, and then I had to battle with Sookie's microwave, which seemed to have a fucking mind of its own. Maybe I would just replace that.

She was very grateful, and kept telling me how lovely it was to have someone cook for her. I could tell she didn't really like surrendering the kitchen over to me though as she'd been hanging around the whole fucking time I was trying to cook like she was worried I'd burn the kitchen down, so at least I managed to produce something edible and prove to her that I was perfectly capable. God knows I'd had to feed myself a lot as a kid.

Sookie was in such a good mood since her visit to Lorena that I hoped we were back on track for the night. As we did the dishes she kept kissing me and just smiling. A lot. Surely this was going to be a good sign for bedtime?

Apparently not. When we got into bed, after having coffee in front of TV, she kissed me and said she was sorry about the no sex, but it wouldn't be too much longer and she'd be back to normal. I held in my sigh. I really wanted to tell her there was other stuff we could do, but I realised the other stuff was probably only for my benefit and I didn't want to make her feel like she had to. Not when she was in such a fucking good mood. So I settled for some kissing and being cuddled up against her for another restless night.

So restless in fact that I was awake a lot earlier than usual. The sun wasn't completely up. I considered going to back to sleep when I realised that it wasn't rain I could hear, it was the shower running in the bathroom.

Thanks for reading!