I DON'T OWE EMMERDALE OR THE CHARACTERS BLAR BLAR BLAR...IT'S ALL THE PROPERTY OF ITV.

Thanks for the reviews.

XXX

Ross Barton was cheerfully singing along to some back in the day rock song on the radio, whilst he happily clocked the latest car the garage had up for sale.

Debbie nursed her brew and came over to him, "So what's with all the singing for? You not usually this cheerful"

Ross poked his head out of the car's electrics and gave her one of his shruggy smiles, "just am...no law against it, is there...I mean...you won't be sending in the happy police or owt?"

"Well...you can't blame me for asking, you've been like a bear with a sore head these past few weeks and now, here you are, all happy and singing along to an old tune you hate"

Ross finished what he was doing and then closed up the car and gave the brew in Debbie's hand the nod, "Don't I get one of those, or am I just the lackey who has to go and make his own"

Debbie liked this happy Ross...at last he must have put all that Donna business behind him, and it was about time to.

"No...I'll make you one...", She leaned in to his kiss him, but he avoided her and pointed to the next car, "second thoughts, forget the brew...best crack on with this one...can't stop and chat...we've gotta shift these as soon as..."

Debbie rolled her eyes, "How dodgy ARE these cars exactly"

Ross laughed at her as he tinkered about with the engine, "don't be asking any questions to the answers you don't want to hear...we'll leave it at that"

XXX

At Lunchtime, Ross wiped his hands with a rag and looked towards the pub, he needed a nice cold pint.

Debbie nodded to the pub, "Hey...you go...I'll follow you over in a bit"

Ross didn't need telling twice, he was off over the road no sooner as you could say 'I'm off'.

Debbie did this because Ross's mobile was sitting on the side and he had forgotten it was there. She went over to it and picked it up...she bit her lip...then telling herself that he'd be back for it at any moment, she decided to look at his texts.

She shook her head, "I thought as much..."

Donna had sent him a text of a smiley face.

She closed up the bonnet of the car she was working on and then went storming over to the pub.

XXX

Ross grabbed his pint from the bar and went and sat down in the corner, and as he sat he patted his pockets and rolled his eyeballs, he had left his phone at the garage.

"Looking for this?"

Ross looked up as he sat down, Debbie was holding the phone out to him, her eyes fixed to him, and she didn't look happy.

"Yeah...nice one...saves me a trip back over the road"

Debbie sat down and tilted her head, "So...I thought we could spend the evening together...you are spending way too much time over Andy's"

Ross glanced up from his phone, "It IS where I live"

Debbie leaned forward, "But you could always come and stay with me...Sarah and Jack seem to like you...and you are good with kids, surprisingly"

Ross huffed and looked at her, "Debbie...look...there was something I was meaning to tell ya"

"What...no let me guess...nothing to do with a certain ex- copper is it?"

Ross met her gaze, "Donna?"

"yeah there's only ex-copper we know about isn't there? YES DONNA...she's a lying cow her"

Ross leaned back and looked at her, "She might be coming back...because I'VE been in touch with her"

Debbie began to panic, "but what about us...ROSS!"

Ross felt sorry for her, "Debbie...you've been great...you've really tried looking after me, but I KNOW what I want...I want Donna...I want her back"

"but she lied to you...she used you and made you look like a fool"

Ross shrugged, "My pride was hurt...and I thought she lied about loving me...but she didn't..."

"and what about this kid she's carrying...what about that Ross, have you not even thought about that?"

"It's MINE Debbie...I knew it deep down...Donna wasnt sleeping with anyone else, don't you get that"

Debbie looked really gutted, "but me and you have a connection...you TOLD ME that"

Ross smiled at her, but it was a sorry smile, "we have...but not in the way you think so...you are a smashing cracking bird you are...but you are not the first girl I think about in the morning and daydream all day about...she's down south and she NEEDS to come back..."

"and SHE'S definitely coming back is she?"

Ross sighed, "she's coming up so April can see her granddaddy...she said me and her can have a talk...about things...about...you know"

For Debbie it was all falling into place, "Oh I get it now...this is WHY you've been all cheerful, and there was me thinking it was ME making you so happy, how wrong was I, huh?"

Ross stood up and downed his pint, "sorry..but I can't help the way I feel, can I"

Debbie followed him outside, "but it's okay to go stringing me along and giving me hope that YOU and ME could be together"

Ross stopped and closed his eyes, feeling guilty, he turned around and took her hands, "Debbie...I'm sorry about that...but I said to ya about being second best and I MEANT that...I LOVE DONNA...so you'll have to go deal with that...or tell your dad and he'll come punch me one..but it wouldn't make no difference...Donna's back for the weekend and in that time I have to show what she means to me...and show everybody else..."

He then let go of her hands and walked off, Debbie felt gutted.

What ever became of the old Ross? The likely lad who came to the village and everybody was wary off because of what he was involved in. Criminals, gangsters, gangs. Car jacking. He was so exciting.

She was so desperate at one point she had almost served it up on a plate for him, but he had knocked her back.

He wanted her back then, that's WHY he did it.

But what had changed him?

Oh yes...DONNA FLAMING WINDSOR...how could a bad boy like Ross find so exciting about her?

Fuming inside, she was sure that Donna was still going to lie to him, and she was going to watch her every move for when she does...

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TRYING END THIS FIC ON A HAPPY NOTE! I WILL GET THERE!