She sat in 'College Coffee' drinking a strong coffee, willing her hangover to disappear.
She had a banging headache and she couldn't be doing with it all; Peri shouting at her was the last thing she needed or wanted this morning.
Sitting on her own her thoughts wondered to Ste who was lying in hospital, she said some horrible things to him and she couldn't help but think it was all her fault, she tipped him over the edge.
She needed to go and see him, draining her coffee she got up and made her way to the hospital; it was now or never she thought to herself, she had to go and see Ste, she needed him to forgive her because she hated herself enough already.
As she found herself standing outside the hospital images of Ste's lifeless body filled her mind.
He is going to be alright her mind said over and over again.
Walking up to the entrance she slowly walked in the hospital, making her way to the ward Ste was on.
As she walked slowly down the plain corridors she came to his room, looking through the little window she saw him lying awake on the bed so she pushed the door open, hesitating slightly.
Ste's head turned to his sister and he gave her a weak smile which she managed to return; she was so relieved he was okay, she didn't want to lose him, not really; he was the brother she always wanted.
"Ste" Leela breathed, rushing over to the bed and hugging him, she felt him return the gesture causing her to smile to herself; maybe he doesn't hate me she thought to herself as she felt a tiny bit of hope.
"I'm so sorry" Leela sobbed as she pulled back from the hug, pulling an empty chair up to the side of the bed and sitting down "Please... I... Don't hate me..." she was unsure of what to say, she wanted to tell him that she didn't mean what she said but it was said and done, she should never have spoken to him like that; he was her brother and she loved him, she couldn't lose him.
"It's okay" Ste reassured her kindly.
"It's not, I should have never said such horrible things" Leela said, wiping her tears away.
"I never meant to overdose" Ste said as he watched his sister closely "I'm not weak"
"I know you're not" Leela said as she placed her hand over his "You don't hate me?"
"I don't hate you" Ste sighed, sitting up slightly so he could pull his sister in for a hug.
"I didn't mean what I said" Leela said as they hugged.
Pulling back Ste looked at his sister and smiled at her "I know you didn't, I get it, you we upset, you just lost your Mum and Dad"
"You lost your Dad too" Leela whispered.
"Yeah, well in the end he didn't what anything to do with me" Ste told her "I mess everything up, I should have expected it eventually"
"No, Ste, he loved you, you were his son and whatever he said he wouldn't have meant it, he loved you Ste, he really did, he told me, he spoke about you all the time" Leela let out a small chuckle "It got on my nerves it did, he wouldn't shut up about how glad he was that you were in his life"
Ste and Leela spend the next couple of hours speaking, it had been arranged that Ste was going to live with them when he got out; they needed to stick together now.
Suddenly Leela's phone burst into life signalling someone was calling her, looking at the caller id she saw Peri's name.
"I gotta go yeah" Leela said rushing out of the door and answering her phone, expecting Peri to be on the other end.
"Tom..." Leela said confused "Where's Pez?"
"I don't know, we were talking and suddenly she burst into tears and ran off"
"What? Where is she?" Leela raised her voice.
"Look, don't worry Tom, I'll find her" she hurriedly said before hanging up the phone and rushing out of the hospital.
Ringing Tegan she asked if Peri was at the house but she wasn't so she thought about the places she could be.
If she knew Peri she had a good idea where she would be so she made her way to the folly.
Leela found her sat at the folly crying her eyes out, the force of her sobs rocking her tiny frame.
Slowly approaching her Leela touched her knee causing her to jump and look up and to her surprise Peri didn't shake her off or run away.
Throwing herself into Leela's arms she let out more heart-wrenching sobs.
"Peri sweetheart, what's wrong?" Leela asked gently, when she got no reply she continued "Did Tom do something to you?"
Peri shook her head violently and looked up at Leela through teary eyes.
"Peri, baby, please tell me what's wrong?" Leela said as she brushed her daughters cheeks trying to soothe the tears but Peri just hugged herself closer to her side and cried more.
"Don't leave me" Peri mumbled into Leela's side.
"What?" Leela asked, confused and shocked.
Peri lifted her head and wiped her eyes with her sleeve "I didn't mean it"
Leela sighed as she finally understood why her daughter was so upset.
"I was just angry..." Peri whispered "I don't hate you" she added as more tears came flowing down her cheeks.
"I know" Leela said with a soft smile as she wiped her daughter's tears away.
"I don't wish it was you" she told Leela "I wish it never happened"
"Me too" Leela said in a whisper as she looked at her daughter with sad eyes; she wished she could take her daughter's pain away.
"Leela..."
"Hmm..." Leela muttered as she was thinking about how it all became such a mess.
"I'm glad..." Peri smiled at her sister/mum "I'm glad that it's you"
Leela thought about what her daughter said and smiled faintly.
"I suppose it could be worse, I could have a Mum that doesn't care..." Peri said "But you care..." she added with a bit of uncertainty in her voice.
"I care" Leela reassured her, squeezing her hand gently.
"Tom made me see that I was wrong, he made me realise that I still have people who care about me and I shouldn't push them away" Peri told Leela "I love you"
"Love you too" Leela told her daughter as she hugged her close.
"We won't forget..." Peri mumbled as she hugged Leela back.
Pulling back Leela looked at her daughter, knowing what she meant she gave her a sad smile "We will never forget"
So this will be the end but I do have another idea so if you want more let me know and I'll see what I can do