They arrived home Linda grabbed Grace's dance bag and some shopping and Grace willingly helped Linda carry the shopping as they entered Linda's apartment.

They put the shopping away together which they both enjoyed spending some time together. Grace grabbed her dance bag and put it over her shoulder.

"Where am I staying?" Linda rushed over and led the way.

"Just through here" Linda opened the door to a nicely decorated spare room where Grace placed her bag on the bed. Linda turned to leave her but heard Grace say something to her.

"I was mad at you earlier in the car"

"Why?" Linda knew Grace was angry but wanted to hear why.

"I was mad at you for all those times you never showed up before and I was thinking you would never show up like the old times but , today you did" Linda could feel the tears wanting to slip down her face but she put on a brave face.

"I'm so sorry Grace, my life and friends came before you years ago. I was a complete idiot back then and now because of my mistakes I lost you but, now that has changed and I have changed and I will do anything to get you back Grace". Linda knew that sounded a bit much but she wanted to let Grace know how she felt.

"I'm sorry If I ever made you feel like you were forgotten because I know what it is like to be forgotten and I don't ever want you to feel like that again" Grace was shocked she wasn't expected an apologise from Linda but now she got one and that changed the way she thought about her.

Grace knew it would take time for her to forgive Linda but she knew one day she would and it would be the best thing in the world to have a proper mother who she would maybe be living with rather than living with her Nan not that there was anything wrong with living with her Nan.

"Want to watch a movie?" Linda asked hesitantly

"Yeah, I would love to"

"I was thinking it could be more of a mother and daughter bonding time? With cookies, pop corn and maybe girl talk" Linda asked shyly

"Yeah, I suppose it could be" Linda knew she was pushing it but she was glad Grace wasn't pushing her away.

"I'm just going to get changed and then we can put the movie on how does that sound?" Grace nodded as she started to unpack her bag. Linda left to change in to something more comfortable and then got the pop corn ready and placed it on the coffee table with drinks, cookies, crisps and chocolate as she waited for Grace.

Grace changed into something more comfortable but took a quick look in the mirror where she looked at herself closely and took a deep breath and left her room shutting the door behind her and walked into the lounge to see Linda had set up food supplies and drinks for their "mother and daughter time" Grace smiled seeing that Linda had taken it seriously.

"There you are come and sit down" Linda said entering the room with a fleece blanket for her and Grace to wrap themselves in. Grace sat down on the soft expensive sofa looking rather nervous and uncomfortable about spending time with Linda. Linda sat down next to Grace but she left a gap between them so that Grace wouldn't feel like Linda was smothering her like she said.

"So what film do you want to watch?" Linda asked

"I don't mind, maybe something girly"

"How about ...Bridesmaids?"

"Yeah that sounds good" Grace said smiling at Linda.

Grace watched Linda as she set up the DVD player and placing the DVD in before pressing play and then sitting back down to snuggle under the blanket.

Throughout the movie they laughed together at the same scenes in the movies and they shared smiles throughout the movie. They shared the pop corn and the snacks as they watched the movie. Linda glanced at Grace and smiled watching her laugh and being close to Grace was all she needed. Once the movie ended they sat quietly until Grace spoke breaking the silence.

"You, know all those years when you and Jess would go out and leave me with Nan. I hated it because all I wanted was to be near you or even get one look from you but I never did. I would follow you but you never noticed or you would brush me away. You would just go out and never look back and it was Nan who had to put my small fragile broken heart back together whilst you partied" Grace knew it would upset Linda but she needed to tell her how she felt all those years ago.

"I'm so sorry Grace, you knew I loved you didn't you? And I still do and always will love you"

"I don't know; see I don't think you ever did"

"That's not true"

"I loved you Linda, I really did, I would do anything to get your attention or to be with my mum but now I look back you did the best to get away from me like I was the plague, I was only a child Linda and no child deserves the coldness I got from you"

"I was young Grace; I wanted to live my life"

"Oh so what you are saying is that I got in the way of your life when really I should have been part of that life, I remember seeing you, Jess and Auntie Denise would be passed out on the floor in your own sick so many times Linda" Grace shook her head and she would not let look at Linda once.

"Look at me Grace" Grace looked up at Linda "you are the best thing in my life and I don't regret having you ever Grace don't ever think I did, I am sorry you had to see me like that but as soon as I saw the state that Auntie Denise would get into and we nearly lost her to drugs and it changed me and I changed from that moment on and that's why I became a nurse so I could earn enough money to support you and me"

Grace was silent as she took in what Linda just said and Linda watched the look on Graces face as she took in what she said.

"Work always came first for you and because of that you missed play dates, school plays and dace recitals. I would always look before the show at Nan and that empty seat where you should have been only to have my dreams crushed. Year after year that would break my heart because I would always hope I would one day come first with you"

"I know work did always come first but I was under the bizarre impression that my mother had my back and would support me in my work and I never realised how important it was to you to have me there"

"I am so luck you had Nan look after me all these years, she did the job that you should have been doing but let's face it you never were maternal type were you Linda"

"Do you really hate me that much? Then what are you doing here?"Linda was angry now and didn't bother to hide it.

"Touched a nerve have I? It's the truth and the truth hurts doesn't it"

"What have I got to do prove that I love you and that I want you Grace?, everything you say you just twist it round to be my fault " Linda was now crying which made Grace feel bad so she moved over to Linda and wrapped her arms round her.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you cry, I just wanted to make you realise how I felt all these years"

"It's true everything you said and I am sorry I made you feel unloved or not wanted when really I love you and I do want you Grace"

"I do love you ... Mum" Linda gasped hearing Grace finally use the word that she had been waiting for.

Sorry that was mean to be a lot happier than that but I thought Linda should hear who her absence affected Grace all those years. sorry for grammar mistakes which I will sort out as soon as I can.