The next two weeks passed without any remarkable events.
Things just continued as usual.
Brett kept spending time with Anna and had even started calling her Mum. He had also just moved into the house, after Tom had told him that he should just ask Anna because he knew she would have no problem with it.
Anna spent every evening either over at Tom's house or with Tom in her own house. It didn't matter whether they were relaxing and watching the television, or staying up all hours marking books - it just felt so right to be together.
It was now Friday 19th September, the last day of term and the day of the christmas ball.
The ball, which was supposed to be in the commnity hall, but due to extra money had been moved to a hired out function room of a local restaurant, was due to start at 7pm and end at midnight.
Tom would be picking Anna up at 6.30, as they had to be at the ball before the students.
From arriving home shortly after 3.30pm to the time when Tom would be picking her up, Anna ran around the house frantically getting herself ready. She had sent Brett to Tom's house so that she, Mika and Chlo could get changed in peace - not that it was very peaceful.
The doorbell rang at 6.25pm.
Anna said quick goodbyes to Tom's two step daughters before answering the door.
Tom was stood there in a smart black suit with a red rose in the button hole of the breast pocket - red roses were Anna's favourite flowers.
His heart leapt up into his throat as he saw his beautiful girlfriend.
Anna was wearing a gorgeous deep red dress. It was floor length, and strapless. The top was fitted like a corset with black ribbons down the back. Her dark hair was curled into ringlets and a small tiara perched atop of the curls.
' Wow,' he breathed, ' You look...wow...I mean... wow,'
Anna laughed, ' Should I be worried that my favourite English teacher has forgotten his vocabulary? '
Tom shook his head, ' I'm sorry, you just look phenominal sweetheart.' he grinned planting a kiss on her cheek.
'You don't look too bad yourself,' Anna smirked, smoothing his soft hair down affectionatley with the palm of her hand, ' In fact you look so handsome that I'm worried as to who you are and what you're done with my boyfriend.'
' Maybe you've just never noticed how handsome I am before now,' Tom sighed mock dramatically.
'No, you've always been gorgeous darling.'
'Well,' Tom grinned, ' if that's what you think then maybe we should just ditch the ball and go else where.'
Anna frowned, ' Are you kidding? After going to all the trouble to find this outfit? No chance.'
Tom shrugged, ' Ah well, worth a try. Shall we? '
She took hold of the arm that he offered out to her and he led her to his silver car.
At the ball, Tom and Anna were sat at a table with Matt and his boyfriend, Colin, just talking.
10 minutes later, Davina entered the room on the arm of a tall sandy haired man.
Eddie and Rachel greeted them on the door and then the blonde and her partner came to join the other four teachers at their table.
Tom, Colin, Matt and Anna stood to greet the new couple.
Davina kissed Anna on the cheek, and hugged Matt and Tom.
Matt motioned towards his boyfriend, ' Davina, this is Colin - my boyfriend.'
' Oh, hi,' Davina said shaking Colin's hand. Jack Rimmer nodded at Colin silently.
' Everyone this is my boyfriend, Jack Rimmer. Jack, this is Matt and this is Anna.. and Tom, you already know.'
Jack shook hands with Matt and then took hold of Anna's hand.
He pressed his lips against her skin lightly, causing her to smile at him.
As everyone took their seats, Tom was glaring at Jack for daring to kiss Anna's hand, and he wrapped his arm around Anna's shoulders protectively. Anna knew that Tom blamed Jack for Izzie Redpath's death as he hadn't called an ambulance in time.
' So Tom, how've you been since I saw you last? How are the girls? ' asked Jack, trying to make conversation.
Tom smiled a little, ' They're both doing fine, and everything's fine.'
' Good to know,' Jack nodded in approval.
' Don't you two find it odd that Mika and Brett are dating, whilst you're dating? ' Davina asked Tom and Anna.
Anna shrugged, ' Why would it be weird? '
' Well because, you know, Mika is Tom's step-daughter and Brett is your son. I mean, your kids are dating - isn't that a kind of incest? '
' What? ' asked Anna in confusion. Tom looked the same way.
Davina continued, ' Well if you two got married, then Mika and Brett would be step siblings, wouldn't they? '
Anna looked a bit uncomfortable, ' Well hold on there, we've only been dating a few months, we don't even live together yet.'
Jack looked thoughtful, 'What's this I hear about you being Brett's mother? I mean - I see the resembalance but I thought his mother was dead. I know Brett's father remarried but not to you...'
Anna rolled her eyes, ' I'm rather suprised Davina has not filled you in on the details - I'm Riger Aspinall's younger sister. I gave birth to Brett was I was only a teenager so Roger and his wife raised him because that was the best thing to do at the time. Not that any of this concerns you of course.'
Jack laid his hand over Anna's on the table, ' I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you or anything.'
Tom glared at Jack, ' I would appreciate it Jack, if you didn't keep touching my girlfriend, she might not want your hands all over her.'
' Now, now, Tom, no need to get so protective,' Jack tried to reason.
Anna was already loathing this man - he was just so arrogant.
As the song changed from a fast rock song to a slow song that Anna recognised, Tom stood up and offered her his hand.
' Would you care to dance? ' he asked.
' I would.' she replied
She took his hand and allowed herself to be led to the floor.
The song - Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, Time of my Life - was from one of Anna's favourite films - Dirty Dancing.
Tom wrapped both of his strong arms around Anna's waist pulling her in close to him, she in response clasped her hands at the back of his neck, stroking his skin lightly, sending a shiver down his spine.
They moved together in time to the music, their faces mere centimeters apart.
As they slow danced, they had a whisered conversation.
' You know, what Davina said got me thinking,' Tom told her softly.
' Don't strain yourself,' she quipped.
He frowned, ' This is serious.'
She bit her lip, ' Sorry,' she whispered, continuing to stroke his neck lightly.
' We spend so much time at each other's houses, and we only live a few metres apart, what are we doing? We're just wasting money on running two houses when we'd both fit into one, even with the kids. How about you move in with me? '
Anna blinked in suprise, ' Really? Is there enough room for all of us? '
Tom nodded, ' Of course there is. The house has four bedrooms including the attic conversion we had done last year. One for us, and one each for Mika, Chlo and Brett. What do you say? '
' I'd love to! '