A/N: Thank you all for the continued and wonderful reviews! I am having so much fun letting my imagination run wild and I'm glad to see that other people are enjoying it.
Chapter 16: Boxing Day
Christmas had been a wonderful day full of happy family and plenty of gifts and food. The house had been full to the brim with guests and Caroline and Fiona hadn't wanted it any other way. The two families got along as though they had been linked for years and the two women were beyond thrilled with the ease at which they all came together. They had even decided, together, to place two special candles on the hearth in loving memory of Kate and Hannah. Clare, Ian and Emma had come for Christmas, but had left in the morning to spend Boxing Day with Ian's family. It had been decided that Boxing Day would be at Gillian's so everyone would get a chance to visit before returning back to their obligations after the holidays were over.
oOo
They all arrived at Gillian's just after 10am and greetings were made before everyone set off to do their own chatting before the late afternoon meal. Gillian collected her coat and Wellies saying she needed to run her daily fence check and transfer the sheep to the next field before she came in to finish preparing the meal.
"Gillian, would you mind if I join you? I'd like to see the farm and I can help you corral the sheep." Fiona approaches her just as she steps to the door. She's unaware that everyone else in the room has looked up, a slightly amused look on their faces.
"Ummm, yea, if you want. Are you sure?" She's been around Fiona a few times, and she really quite likes her, but she's not entirely sure if Fiona knows what she's in for. She'd always assumed, like Caroline, Fiona wasn't much of a farm girl.
"Yes, I would like to. My granddad had a farm when I was young. My brother Liam and I used to spend summer holiday with him, helping him care for the sheep and chickens. I loved that farm."
"Alright, let me get you a spare pair of wellies and a heavier coat." Gillian smiles and heads up the stairs to collect the items for Fiona to wear. Caroline crosses to Fiona, the look of amusement still on her face. She grabs Fiona's shoulders and looks into her eyes, shaking her head.
"You never cease to surprise me Fiona Doyle." She leans in and kisses her softly on the lips, causing Fiona to blush slightly. She takes Fiona's face in her hands and kisses her forehead before telling her to have fun.
oOo
The women load into the Land Rover and are heading down the gravel road before either of them speaks. Gillian speaks first, feeling awkward in the silence.
"So, your granddad had a farm, eh? That's nice. I always wanted this place, ever since I was a kid." She looks over at Fiona, with an awkward smile. They'd never spent any length of time alone together, and though they knew each other reasonably well they still weren't much more than acquaintances. Fiona looks back with a warm friendly smile, putting Gillian at ease, as she has a way of doing with almost anyone, that ability having been one of her greatest assets as a social worker.
"Yea, he had sheep and chickens on a small farm north of Dublin. I loved it; the sheep of course, were my favorite." She smiles and looks out the window, enjoying the scenery and the fond memories it brings.
"This is a beautiful place Gillian; you've done quite well with it. I meant to tell you the last time we were here." She looks over to Gillian and smiles, and then returns her gaze out the window. Gillian veers off the road and they head across the field to the gate where she wants to transfer the sheep. She stops the rover and gets out, Fiona following right behind her.
"They are pretty well trained by now, I only have to open the gate and bang a stick and they all come running. Once we've got them corralled I need to drive the fence line to check for breaks, you ok with that? If not, I can take you back." Gillian unlatches the gate and picks up the stick leaned against it. She raps a few times on the metal and, just as she said, the sheep come trotting in. Fiona watches in amusement and stoops down to pet a lamb as it comes running by.
"That's fine by me. How old is this one, 6 or 7 weeks?" She scratches its head and laughs as it nuzzles into her leg.
"Umm, yea, 6 weeks tomorrow actually…I'm impressed," Gillian smiles in amazement, pleasantly taken by surprise at Fiona's knowledge.
"I'm not all city kitty, you know, I can get dirty now and again. " Fiona flashes a cheeky grin at Gillian, who chuckles in response.
"You surprise me Fiona. I'd expect anyone Caroline would love, would want to be spotless at all times. I bet she'd die if you came home covered in sheep shit." She looks at Fiona with a wicked smile and the two share a hearty laugh.
"I imagine she might, so let's make sure that doesn't happen." She winks then crosses to the gate and helps Gillian shut it before they make their way back to the rover.
They head along the fence line, conversation flowing more freely now. As they reach the last stretch of fence, Gillian notices a large muddy spot ahead and maneuvers the rover in an attempt to steer around it. Her efforts are useless and they quickly find themselves stuck in the mud. She revs the engine higher, hoping to free the back tire, and swears when she realizes her attempts are futile.
"Bollocks. It's no use, the tire's stuck. I'll have to fetch Robbie to come give me a hand." She bangs her hand on the steering wheel in frustration.
"Gillian, don't be silly. I can get out and push and you can keep giving it petrol. I've got boots on, so it's fine." She opens the door and jumps out of the car before Gillian has a chance to stop her.
"Alright, I'm ready. Give it petrol and I'll push," she calls from behind the car. Gillian reluctantly agrees and slowly presses the accelerator. The car lurches forward slightly, then comes to an abrupt stop.
"Try again. I couldn't get a good grounding." Gillian presses the accelerator again and again the car lurches, so Gillian gives it a little more. The car suddenly jolts forward and out of the mud. She hears Fiona scream from behind the rover and she quickly stops and jumps out of the car. Fiona is lying face down in the mud, slowly lifting herself off the ground.
"Oh shit, Fiona, are you alright?" Gillian runs to Fiona's side and reaches down to help her get up. Fiona lifts herself to her knees then grabs Gillian's hand for support to stand up. Fiona's face is so covered in mud Gillian can't read her expression, but she's pretty certain it isn't good. Fiona is spitting and attempting to wipe her mouth, doing little more than spreading the mud around.
"Dammit Gillian, I told you not to get me dirty." She looks up at Gillian, who has a deep furrow on her brow, obviously oblivious to the jest in her voice.
"God Fiona, I am so sorry. I gave it too much petrol. Umm, here, I might have a rag in the rover." She rushes to the car and returns with a small strip of material. She hands it over sheepishly to Fiona.
"Oh…thanks." She replies sarcastically as she attempts to wipe the mud from her mouth. Gillian stands watching in shock, her fear growing at the thought of Fiona's probable anger. Fiona looks at the material and the copious amount of mud before looking down at the rest of her body. She suddenly erupts into a roaring belly laugh, catching Gillian off guard.
"God, do I look pitiful or what? Caroline is going to shit a brick," her laughter grows louder as she imagines Caroline's reaction. Gillian too starts laughing hysterically and they stand in the mud for a good while before the laughing subsides.
"Alright, take me back. I need a shower and a bloody drink." She traipses through the mud until she reaches dry ground then tries to shake off the big globs from her feet.
"Come on. Thank god your arse is clean so you don't get the car dirty," Gillian replies as they walk to the rover. Fiona gives a sarcastic laugh before climbing into the seat.
They pull up to the house and Fiona gets out, while Gillian walks ahead to open the door. Gillian steps inside and calls for Caroline to bring some towels and a bowl of warm water. Caroline comes to the door to see what the problem is before she goes to fetch the requested supplies. Her jaw hits the floor when she steps into the doorway and sees Fiona standing on the step outside. She tries to stifle her laughter as she can see the pitiful look in Fiona's eyes and calls into the house for Celia to get the towels and water.
"Oh my god, what on Earth happened, darling? Is that even you?" She approaches her and raises her hands to console Fiona, but not touching her at all, a small laugh escaping her lips.
"Gillian here got us stuck and I, stupidly, offered to give a push." Celia arrives with the towels and water and gasps at the scene. She doesn't do so well at hiding her laughter, and soon everyone in the house is standing outside laughing at poor Fiona. Caroline dips a towel in the bowl of water and gingerly works to remove the mud from Fiona's face. Once she has it clean, she leans in to kiss her, laughing gently, and making sure to keep her body well out of the way.
"Come on my darling, let's get upstairs and get you cleaned up." Fiona slips off her coat and the boots before taking Caroline's hand and following her inside. Gillian collects some spare clothes and gives them to Caroline as she and Fiona head into the bathroom.
Fiona slowly removes all of her clothes and Caroline collects them, making a pile outside the bathroom door. She turns on the shower and lets the water warm up, as Fiona gets out of her underwear. Now naked, Fiona stands shivering as she waits for the water to warm. Caroline sees her and takes her into her arms, pulling her in close to her body to warm her up.
"Caroline, you are going to get dirty. It's still all over me." She tries to pull back without touching Caroline, but Caroline holds tight, only releasing her enough so their eyes can meet.
"God, you are adorable…and sexy, even when you are covered in mud." She leans forward and passionately kisses Fiona, replacing her cold shivers with shivers of delight.
"And you are incredible. You know, there's plenty of room for us both in there, in case I might need help washing up." She bites her bottom lip and raises a seductive eyebrow to Caroline.
"You are trouble, you know that Fiona Doyle? I do have a weakness for trouble, but no, you get in there and I'll wait out here. My whole family is downstairs and these walls are quite thin. I'm sure we can talk about this later though." She gives a suggestive wink before releasing Fiona from her grip. Fiona smiles and kisses her softly before turning to step into the shower. Caroline smacks her playfully on the bum and sits on the toilet to wait.
"I love you Fiona," she says over the running water as she smiles to herself.
"I love you Caroline, and we will resume that discussion later," she pokes her head out of the shower and winks at Caroline, who responds with a laugh, unconsciously licking her lips.
You've got my heart Fiona Doyle, and I wouldn't want it any other way.