Caroline stared at the Sat Nav steering her towards anticipation with nerves fluttering in her stomach.

Caroline had only said yes out of politeness to her friend. Pat's invitation to a Halloween party was somewhat unexpected. They hadn't seen each other in years. A chance meeting in the supermarket had led to a coffee and a pleasant afternoon talking about old times.

"Do you remember when you nearly blew up the lab with your methane experiment? I warned you what would happen."

Caroline's broad smile had Pat laughing into her coffee cup.

"God the whole lab was drenched from the sprinkler system. I can't believe they didn't throw you off the course. It was the talk of the camp for months afterwards. You were so quiet and shy that no-one believed it was you."

Caroline burst into laughter at the memory and Pat placed her fine bone China cup back on its saucer.

"Has there been anyone special since…..you know?"

Caroline shook from her happy memories of their antics in the lab to the ones she tried to forget. The love she dare not speak of since her mother's vile reaction to her declaration of love. She instantly withdrew and it wasn't lost on Pat.

"No, not since...well...you."

"Oh Carrie, you still find it so hard. I'm sorry. How stupid of me. I didn't mean to spoil things. I just assumed. Sorry."

Caroline raised her eyes to look at her ex-lover.

"It's okay Patty. Honestly. Since John left I've kind of thought more about my own happiness and not my mother's. I'm not thinking of love right now but if the right...person came along. Well who knows!"

Caroline returned to her Earl Grey tea and Pat placed her hand on top of Caroline's.

"I can't pretend. I was heart-broken at the time Carrie. But I understand now about your mother. I was hoping you had found contentment and you had managed to find your own happiness with the passage of time. I guess Celia still has that iron grip over you?"

"Mmmm. I run a school of nearly 450 kids, 50 staff, a board of Governors and I can't stand up to a 70 year old poison dwarf!"

Both women laughed at Caroline's use of Celia's nickname.

"How about you Patty? I noticed your wedding ring. Have you found someone special?"

Tears fell down Pat's face making Caroline move to sit next to her ex-girlfriend. She placed an arm around the brunette and kissed her head. Caroline being the taller of the two always felt she was the protector.

Her dear friend's small stature led people to believe she was easy prey. How wrong they were. On the face of it Pat was a fierce battle hardened warrior. But Caroline knew she was vulnerable underneath. They both were tough shells with soft centres.

"I've put my size 7's in it again haven't I? I'm sorry. God what a pair we are?"

Pat took a tissue from her pocket to wipe her tears. Shaking her head and leaning back from Caroline's comfort.

"It's okay. It's not your fault Carrie. You weren't to know. Julie and I were married 3 years but we'd been together nearly 14. They were fantastic years and we even talked about adoption. Then Breast cancer took her from me. It's been nearly a year since I lost her. It doesn't get any easier."

Caroline released her dear friend and placed her hand protectively on her arm.

"Oh Carrie. It's taught me to grab something special when it comes along. You shouldn't wait to set your heart truly free..."

Both women felt the silence of long unsaid words and unreleased emotions. Pat broke the awkwardness.

"I've met someone. It's early days and I'm not sure if it's what I want right now but I won't know unless I try. Jean is a Property Developer. She retired from teaching Chemistry due to Breast cancer which is how we met."

"Oh Patty, I'm so pleased. You have that look in your eyes. She must be nice."

Pat smiled quite shyly like a naughty school girl and Caroline saw the look she once reserved for her.

"Are you free next Saturday night? You could meet her. You'd get on really well being Chemistry types. Please say you're free?"

"Why not. That would be nice. Thank you."

"Ah. I forgot to say It's a Halloween party at my place..."

Caroline's face told Pat it wasn't well received. Pat started to smile at her rather rigid, shy retiring ex- lover.

"...thing is Carrie, it's fancy dress too!"

Caroline's smiled dropped instantly. "Fancy dress? Oh deep joy!"

"Come on Carrie. Don't be a spoil sport. A black pointy hat and a black cloak and you're tickety boo! You can use your gown!"

"Oh alright then. You haven't lost your court room skills of cornering someone have you?"

"I'm a QC now so I must be good at it! The chemical and pharmaceutical giants hate facing me by all accounts."

"I can see why, you little minx."

Both women laughed again at Pats antics in debating with their old college tutors. Pat won on most occasions and many learnt to steer clear of her. She may be small but she packed a verbal sharpness and an astute mind.

Caroline was brought back to the present as her headlights caught the sight of a small white car at the side of the road. She passed and saw the bent over form of a woman in heels and a black cape leaning under the bonnet.

Caroline stopped and reversed back towards the car. It was just getting dark and the country road didn't register on her sat Nav. There wouldn't be many who would pass this way.

"Hi there, Is everything okay?"

The witch with her head under the bonnet reacted without thinking to the noise and hit the back of her head on the hood.

"Wha...shit! Oouch."

"Oh crikey I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to..."

Caroline instantly saw two beautiful brown eyes surrounded by green face paint. A black pointy hat discarded revealing long delicate black braids tied loosely back from a warm face. A dark plumb red lipstick covered perfectly formed lips. Caroline realising she was staring shook herself and looked into her lap.

"It's okay. I think the main gaskets gone. It's leaking oil and over-heating. I'll have to wait until she cools down and get her to a garage."

"Could I take you to a garage and get them to come back with you? It's rather cold and you'd end up freezing."

The witch was still rubbing the back of her sore head as she spoke.

"That's very kind of you but I'm already late so I'm in no hurry and I don't want to put you out."

The braided beauty caught the blondes long legs adorned in a black pencil skirt. As she surveyed this shinning knightess and her low cut black top she caught her breath.

Please, I'd feel so guilty leaving a concussed witch at the side of the road at the mercy of evil monsters and ghouls on such a dangerous night!"

Her damsel smiled at the blondes wit. The wonder of those bright sapphires in the headlights mesmerised her.

"Okay. I'm heading over towards Outerbridge if that's not too far off your path. I'm Kate by the way."

"I'm Caroline, nice to meet you. I'm heading that way too."

In truth Caroline hadn't got a bloody clue where she was heading. That was the Sat Nav's job. But she wasn't giving up the chance of spending more time in the company of those beautiful brown eyes!