"You sure you're gonna be okay?" Dynasty asked, walking with her friend to the gates at the end of the day.
Imogen shrugged. "What's the worst my dad can do?"
Dynasty gave her a knowing look. They'd both had conversations complaining about how useless either of their fathers had been, and how it seemed to them that they didn't care.
"I know." Imogen sighed at the silent words her best friend was giving in her look. "I know… But I have to try." She turned and hugged her as Connor and Kevin walked over to join them.
"You ready?" Connor asked, he still looked worried, but he knew he had to be strong for her, he knew it wasn't going to be easy for her. As much as she wanted her dad, he also knew that they didn't get on particularly well.
Imogen stepped out of her friend's hug and nodded, looking up toward Connor and she nodded, forcing a smile on her face.
"Well text me with an update, okay? I'll be straight round if you need me." Dynasty smiled softly and walked away, dragging Kevin with her.
"Oi what's that for?" Kevin complained, shrugging his arm out of Dynasty's grip, away from her claws.
"Can't you see when you need to leave them to have some privacy?" Dynasty rolled her eyes, smiling a little.
"Sorry about earlier, if you thought I was calling you a bimbo." Kevin muttered, kicking a stone that was in his way.
Dynasty shrugged. "Well I reckon I'm more than a match for you." She smirked.
"Yeah whatever." Kevin smiled as he walked with her.
Connor walked with Imogen, his arm protectively around her. He could tell she was worried but still she didn't say a word. He didn't know what to say to her, but he would just be there to support her.
The journey home was quiet and impossibly slow for Imogen, and as they turned the corner heading into her street, she purposely slowed her walk as she saw the car parked outside her home.
"Imogen?" Connor nudged her.
Imogen looked up at him, suddenly she was scared, nervous, apprehensive.
"Hey, come here." He said softly and hugged her.
Imogen took a deep, calming breath and hugged back.
"You don't have to do this." Connor told her.
Imogen nodded. "I do… And it has to be today otherwise it will never happen…"
Connor sighed softly. She was determined. He loved that about her but sometimes it frustrated him, it seemed as though she felt she had something to prove, when she didn't need to. "Okay. Do you need a few minutes or…?"
Imogen shook her head, leaning back a little so she could look him in the eye. "As long as you're there by my side."
Connor gave her a smile. "Always." He said and took the moment to kiss her gently.
The action prompted a giggle from her, not exactly the reaction he was expecting, but at least she was happy.
"Right, come on. It's now or never." Imogen stated once she broke apart from the kiss.
"Well if it's what you want to do." Connor looked at her. He just wanted to be sure this was what she wanted.
"He needs to know one way or the other." Imogen gave him what she hoped was a convincing smile and held his hand in hers.
Connor nodded, knew her smile was fake but said nothing of it. He just had to be there for her, it was what she deserved after everything he had done to her. Even as they walked, he couldn't help but glance down to where her scar lay.
'I caused that… And I'm so lucky that she forgave me… Cause I can't forgive myself.' He thought and allowed her to lead the way into her home.
"Imogen?"
It was a voice Connor hadn't heard before, but knew it must have been her father.
Imogen dropped her bag at the bottom of the stairs and walked through into the living room, looking back to make sure Connor was following her.
"Who's this?" the man asked, looking at them both from the kitchen table.
Imogen looked between them both. "Well this is Connor." She spoke.
"You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend." The man spoke, looking at the boy directly. 'This is the boy Sally wanted me to get away from our daughter? Really that woman has some stupid ideas in her head…'
"You never asked. Anyway why are you here?" Imogen questioned. She wasn't about to tell him yet, not until she knew why.
"Your mum wanted me to talk to you." He answered. "She seems to think this boy is no good for you." There was no point in lying to the girl. She was old enough to be treated like an adult. She wasn't a child anymore.
"That's cause things happened." Imogen shrugged, taking a few steps toward him.
"What things?"
Connor could sense the tension begin to thicken in the room. He looked toward Imogen as she looked over her shoulder to him and he walked over to her, and out of habit, put his arm around her waist.
"Well not so long ago, there was a fire in school, and I got hurt." Imogen started, keeping her gaze on Connor. "And Connor was the one who started it."
"So that's why she wants you away." The man nodded, starting to dislike Connor. "Well I can understand, Imogen. He's meant to love you and he hurts you."
"Yeah I did. And every time I look at her, I see the damage I did. Every minute of every day, I regret what I did. I was angry at my mum when I started that fire, and it was only me that was supposed to get hurt. I couldn't stop her from coming into that room, but I didn't tell her to go either. Even if I did she wouldn't have listened to me. And I ignored her when she needed me most, something I won't forgive myself for. When I told her it was me, she told me to do the right thing, tell the truth, and I did. Cause before, I was a coward, hiding behind my mum. But she made me strong, without Imogen I'm nothing. I love her, I always have from the day I met her, and probably will until one of us takes our last breath."
Imogen's eyes had filled with tears as she listened to him, and in an effort to comfort him, or herself, she wasn't too sure, she leaned in toward him.
The man listened also, and just by looking at him as he spoke, he could tell he meant every single word. "And you're sorry for what you did to her?"
Connor nodded. "Every minute of every day. Every time I look at her."
"Well then, I suppose that's good enough for me." The man told him. What was the point in kicking off? Imogen had the right to ask why he was in her home, he was all too aware he'd abandoned her and her mother, and it wasn't her fault. He didn't know about the fire, and again was his fault and he should have been there.
"There's more." Imogen said, wiping her eyes and a small, genuine smile crossed her face.
The man looked at her again.
"We're married. We got married last term." Imogen said.
A/N: And there it is. Now I know we haven't seen Imogen's dad in the show, but any ideas what way you'd like this to go? Does he accept it and tell Sally to get a grip? Does he go mad? Need a bit of help here and would be utterly grateful :D
