I DON'T OWE EMMERDALE OR THE CHARACTERS BLAR BLAR BLAR...IT'S ALL THE PROPERTY OF ITV.
A/N: I was PMed about doing another Ross and Donna story. This will be the last one. I am still writing my other story at the moment. This is the second instalment because it seems there is an interest.
NB: Donna is NOT suffering from Cancer in this AU. She came back to Emmerdale because she lost all her savings and wanted a better future for April.
This story starts off with a new conclusion of the Gary North operation.
XXX
Donna Windsor sat at the breakfast table at Smithy Cottage staring into her corn flakes.
It made her want to be physically sick.
Rhona turned from the sink, "What shift are you on today?"
Donna pushed the bowl away from her and looked up and forced on a smile, "I haven't, I've got a day off"
Rhona was pleased to hear that, "Good! All that stuff in the papers about you getting that Gary North bloke...you're a hero...but I can also see that you need time off lady, you look ill"
Donna laughed it off and stood, she went to the bin and scraped the corn flakes into it, "I just prefer some dry toast, that's all"
Rhona was onto it with her hand already in the bread bin, "coming up..."
Donna shook her head, "I'll make some later...I have to get April ready for school"
She moved to go upstairs but Rhona stopped her, "Are you SURE you are okay...Gary North was a nasty bloke by all accounts and what I read about...he must of really shaken you up"
Donna nodded, "He's inside now...it's finished, it's ALL finished...I need to get April ready"
Rhona called up the stairs after her, "then I'll meet you for a drink lunchtime..."
XXX
Ross was in a right mood. Debbie watched him work on the motor he had tinkered in for the last hour. He dropped a tool and cursed.
"You're all fingers and thumbs you...are you all right?"
Ross looked over to her and frowned, "Yeah...why wouldn't I be..."
Debbie came forward and tilted her head, "have you been in a fight? Cut lip...big bruise around your eye...have you had a bust up with someone?"
"Mind your own..."
"Ohhhh, or is it trouble in paradise? I haven't seen you this miserable in weeks"
Ross glared at her, "What do you mean?"
"You and Donna of course...she IS your girlfriend...isn't she?"
Ross slammed the bonnet down on the motor and looked at her, "Donna who? She's nothing but a lying bitch her! I'm well rid"
Debbie watched him strip out of his overall, "and now I'm going for an early lunch", she sighed and turned to stop him going, "Hey...it looks like you've got a lot going off in that head of yours...if you want to talk about it..."
Ross looked back at her, "Thanks for your unduly concern...but I'm sure our Pete wouldn't like that much, would he?"
"What's this got to do with him"
"Just forget it, see you in a bit...or not", and he walked off. Debbie turned to make herself a brew in the garage, what had got into Ross? She had known about his secret relationship with Donna Windsor for weeks, but obviously something had gone wrong... and what was all that with his face? Someone must have had a right a right go at him to do that much damage...she sighed, no doubt she will find out soon enough...
XXX
Donna stepped into the pub and sat down at a table. She pulled her red hoody round her. Rhona was up at the bar and came over with two white wines.
"Hiya...you made it then?"
Donna shook her head, "can't stop long...", she looked at the white wine but didn't touch it.
"I was talking to Laurel and Nicola the other day and we were ALL saying you need a good night out"
Donna laughed, "a night out? All I need is some sleep after all those shifts I've been doing"
Rhona clutched her wine glass, "YES...all those shifts...all work and no play...and then you don't stop at home because of April...you need to let your hair down...and who knows..."
Donna looked puzzled, "who knows...what?"
Rhona laughed, "if we all go out YOU might find yourself a nice fella!"
Ross was then coming in and looked at her. Their eyes met just for a split moment before he went up to the bar, Rhona grimaced, "...it's not like there's any decent ones hanging around here, is there"
Donna glanced towards Ross, then stood and went to the toilet. Inside she stood and looked into the mirror. The tap was dripping. She composed herself and went back out to see Paddy and Marlon up at the bar, "There she is...the hero of the hour"
Chas laughed as she served them, "yeah...I read about that...it sounded like you were a right hero...int that right"
Ross looked up from where he was staring into his pint, he picked it up and looked over at Donna nastily, "yeah...she's a right HERO is Donna"
He then sat down at a table out of the way.
Marlon blew out a laugh, "Huh...some people eh? Well, we appreciate you don't we Paddy"
"We most certainly do..."
Donna went back to her table and looked at Rhona, "I'm just gonna go..."
Rhona frowned at her, "Hey ARE YOU alright? You haven't touched your drink..."
Donna waved a hand to it, "you have it...I'm just feeling really tired...I'm going for a lie down"
When Donna was gone, Marlon came over and saw the empty seat, "Where's Donna?"
"She said she was tired"
"She must be...she works too hard her, Bob was only saying to me the other day that she needs to slow down"
In the street Donna was walking towards Smithy cottage in the sunshine on her phone.
"Yes...Donna Windsor...I called earlier about making an appointment to see Dr Lewis...today at 5 will be great, thanks, bye"
She pocketed the phone and looked back to the pub, then went along her way.
XXX
Debbie had just got Sarah and Jack their teas. She dried her hands as there was a knock at the door repeatedly.
"Okay okay I'm coming!"
She opened it and saw Ross standing there, she sighed, "THERE YOU ARE...Have YOU been drinking all afternoon?"
He barged in and stood there looking at her, "that bitch used me...she made me...she made ME for in love with her and she fucking used me!"
Debbie was in a fluster with the kids, "Come on kids...Sarah will you take Jack upstairs please..."
When she saw them up, Debbie turned her attention back to Ross, who was now sitting on the sofa seething.
"What are you on about?"
"Donna! Who else...she lied...it was ALL a lie from the start, and I like the big stupid mug I am fell for it"
Debbie sat beside him and waved out a hand, "Ross you really have lost me here"
Ross looked at her, his eyes searching hers to understand him, "me and her! She SAID she needed the money for April...that's what she said...we've been ripping people off for weeks"
"So she was bent?"
Ross laughed, "I thought she WAS! I got such a buzz out of it...I really thought that she was something else...I never met anyone like her...", he looked sadly to the carpet, "...I fell for her"
Debbie was slowly realising, "it all makes sense...all that Gary North business...she needed you because you knew him..."
"yep...give yourself a gold star...and like the muppet I am...I fell for it hook-line and sinker"
Debbie rubbed his back, "You're well out of it..."
Ross looked at her, then backed away, "Best go...I don't want my brother coming in and accusing me of wanting to be getting off with you"
Debbie stopped him, "there is NO me and Pete...it's over...I've always liked you...I was so jealous when I saw you that day with Donna, going into those woods...you know at Kerry and Dan's non-wedding"
Ross stood up and sniffed back, "don't you go jumping on me Debs I'm on the rebound here"
Debbie looked up at him, "but you KNOW where I am..."
Ross shook his head and left.
XXX
Donna got back to Smithy at five-thirty. April was running around in a spiderman costume and it wore her out to even think about running after her.
Rhona was carrying the washing basket in through the lounge, "so...not see anything you liked?"
Donna looked up, "mm?"
"Shopping...When I texted you, you said you were in the town"
Donna waved her a hand, "Ohhhh what am I like...NO, I never saw anything I liked...it was just a bit of me time that's all"
"Well you do need it"
Rhona went into the kitchen and April followed her. Donna sat on the sofa and put her hand over her belly then put her head in between her hands.
It was confirmed. She WAS pregnant.
She shook her head, the day in that meadow...it had to be that time.
Ross wasn't father material. She loved him yes, but if he knew about this then he'd run a mile...it was all very well taking on April on the run, which she had led him to believe...but Ross and nappies...that was a big fat no even to look at him.
So what was she to do?
She sat back and started thinking...about ALL the options.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
NEW STORY NEW FEEDBACK WILL BE GOOD...