I know that you know that I have a hard time letting go of universes that I create. And with the Lawson/Fenshaw universe being the main thing that I focused on last year, it is any wonder why I had more thoughts about what I thought could have happened.

I hope this does make some sort of sense. Most, if not all the characters in this, are from the birthday fic that I did, In The Years That Have Gone By. So I would go there first if you can't remember where they fit in. Although, this is sort of about how Amanda/Rachel meets them initially...

Enjoy and I'll see you next week for the next person... any guesses who might show up?

PC Bell

1990

Amanda rubbed her hand over her belly a couple of times to calm herself down. No matter how many times she had been interviewed by the police, she never felt calm enough in the small box room. She was sure that there was a reason behind the design of the interview rooms. That feeling of the walls only getting closer and closer as the questions would be asked.

She attempted to focus on something else but her mind could only think about who might have been in the chair before her. Had they been a prostitute like herself? Had they been accused of theft or burglary? Was she sitting in the same place as a murderer had sat? Or had they committed a worse crime than that?

The officer that entered the room wasn't the person that Amanda had been expecting. The young woman who sat in front of her, getting everything ready, looked no older than she was. Maybe it was just because it was a woman. All the other times had been men that she had just closed up and flinched away from when she wouldn't give them any answers.

"I'm PC Katie Bell." The woman said as she looked up at Amanda. "PI Mills will be here in a moment. How are you?"

Amanda could feel her brow crease automatically. "I'm fine."

"Sorry. Just I read in your notes that you are pregnant. I just… my sister is pregnant and I can remember what she was like in her early days. She is due soon. I'm just waiting on the call so that I can meet my niece or nephew." PC Bell paused. "Just the morning sickness and tiredness and everything that goes with it. The amount that my sister complained… I don't think I would want to be in prison while all that is going on."

"I'd rather be in prison than at home."

"Was the father…"

"No. No, he wasn't a client. I think I've worked the dates out right."

"I assume he doesn't know as you haven't had any visitors."

"He'll never know. Not unless… I bump into him again somewhere. I wouldn't know where. He was only in Manchester for his birthday. It was a one off."

Her hand rubbed along her belly again, trying to feel the life that was growing inside her. They were all she had of Lawson and that night. That and the memories. And there was a weird part of her that hoped that one or both of the twins would end up looking like their father. Just so she could have a reminder of his handsome face. Her biggest regret was leaving Lawson asleep in his hotel room. Mainly because he might have helped her and she wouldn't be where she was.

But Amanda found herself looking over at PC Bell throughout the time that PI Mills was interviewing her, wondering about her and why she had said what she said. Which made more sense overall when PI Mills huffed back in his seat.

"Miss Fenshaw, we are just trying to get to the bottom of who was in charge." PI Mills said.

"Which I believe is fairly obvious," Amanda said.

"Usually there is some type of hierarchy in these types of organisations."

Amanda shrugged. "I just did what I was told."

"We… are only holding you and the other girls because we don't want you running off. We can understand if you are afraid of them. And what the repercussions could be if they ever found out that you blabbed. But this investigation could be going on for a while if no one talks. We can't help you if you won't help us."

"Help me?"

"Miss Fenshaw, at this rate, you might be giving birth in prison. The reality of the matter is… you can, attempt, to look after them. But I can tell you now that mothers have tried before, with only one newborn, and failed. I suppose it only matters if you want to keep them. We could look into getting them transferred home once they are born."

"No," Amanda said firmly. "No, they are staying with me. My… If I have any say in the matter, then they are never going to meet my father."

"Then help us."

Amanda found herself turning to PC Bell. The woman gave her an encouraging smile. She was there to plant the idea in Amanda's mind and it didn't help what PI Mills had just said. The life she wanted could maybe be in her grasp if she wanted to take it. She just did fear the repercussions. Especially after the last time she was taught a lesson.

"I'm… going to need some guarantees," Amanda said.

"I'll leave you with PC Bell then." PI Mills said as the tape stopped recording. "She is going to be your designated officer. Can I assume by your earlier comment that you won't want bail to go home?"

Amanda shook her head. "I can't go home. There are a few things that I need from home but… I can't go home. It was never really a home anyway."

PI Mills nodded as he stood up. "I'll get on to one of the safe houses straight away. See if there is any room. Be warned, you will still be under some sort of custody."

Amanda nodded before PI Mills left the room. She turned to PC Bell who moved over a seat to be directly in front of her. The way the woman looked nervous made Amanda think that this was her first time in the role that she had been given. It didn't give Amanda a whole load of hope.

"Right." PC Bell said with a long sigh. "First things first, the safe house. I suppose that is one of the things that you want."

"Yes."

"Is there anything else? Like that is really important to you. Anything that we could help out with basically."

There were a few things that Amanda could think of but she didn't completely know how to word it. She had never been in control like this. She had never been the one to hold all of the cards before. So it was a strange thing to have.

"I… I want to build a better life." Amanda found herself saying eventually. "I want the opposite of what I had. For the twins. I want to finish my education and get myself a good job so that I can provide everything that they need and more. I wanted to become a teacher but that seems rather unlikely now."

PC Bell looked thoughtful for a moment before she smiled up at Amanda. "I don't know. How about I see what I can do?"

It definitely wasn't the situation that Amanda wanted. Maybe it was only made worse by the fact that she had been arguing with the one person that she thought would have helped her.

It was the reason why she had asked for a meeting with PC Bell. She hadn't felt right for the last few hours and with the pains across her stomach, she was worried that something might be wrong with the twins or she had gone into labour. Which had happened.

And she got that PC Bell was angry at her. The accusation that she had played more of a role than Amanda had said was one that she had been denying for the last couple of months, being taken out of the safe house and put back in prison. She didn't want to have her twins in prison but it seemed that way.

"Is the bloody midwife on her way?" PC Bell shouted as she left Amanda's side.

"Yes. And an ambulance. This does all need signing off." One of the guards shouted back.

PC Bell huffed in frustration and Amanda could feel her pain. It was a frustrating situation to be in and it was even worse for her. Because this wasn't how it was meant to be.

"Amanda, help is on the way." PC Bell said as she returned to her side.

"This isn't how I wanted this," Amanda said, allowing the tears to fall down her face.

"I know. I know. And hopefully, we can get it signed off so that you can spend a couple of days in hospital. And then I am going to fight your case harder."

Amanda squeezed her hand tightly as another contraction went through her, closing her eyes tightly as well. She felt PC Bell move slightly and before Amanda even looked at her, she knew that the help wasn't going to arrive in time. Or not going to arrive in time for the first of the twins.

"Amanda… I think you are going to have to start pushing." PC Bell said, letting go of her hand to take off her jumper, placing that underneath Amanda's head. "I can see a head. I don't think we can wait. So on the next contraction, you are going to have to push."

That scared the living daylights out of Amanda and she had never felt so scared in her life. PC Bell talked her through it but Amanda knew that this wasn't how she imagined things. When she had children, she hoped that she would have the father next to her, supporting her all the way, in a hospital, under the best care. She knew that the twins weren't going to remember where they were born but Amanda knew that it would be a memory that would haunt her for a while.

There was some relief from that when PC Bell started to laugh before a few seconds later, a cry filled the room. Amanda allowed her head to fall back, already feeling exhausted. How she was going to go through that all again so soon, she didn't know. She definitely didn't have the strength.

"A boy. Amanda, it's a boy." PC Bell said.

Amanda breathed out a laugh. She knew that she had a rather short list of names that she wanted for a boy but she knew that she would find something. Anything. And it was then that she promised herself that her little boy wasn't going to be like the 99% of the men that she'd had in her life. He was going to join the 1%. With his father. She was going to make him the best man that he could be.

Amanda barely recognised that there were more people in the room than there was originally until her son was placed on her chest after the umbilical cord had been cut and he had been cleaned up a little bit. Her lips instantly went to the top of his head as her hands came up to keep him safe.

"I suppose we are just waiting for this ambulance then." The midwife said.

"It's twins." PC Bell said. "There is another one on the way."

Amanda didn't miss the look of disgust on the midwife's face. It was clear that she had already made an assumption about who Amanda was and, clearly, didn't like the fact that she had been dragged to a prison. Not that Amanda really cared. All she cared about now was her little boy and his sibling that was going to follow soon.

Amanda marvelled at them both as she had her son and daughter lying on top of the covers of the bed, feeling her heart warm at the fact that her son had grabbed onto the sleeve of her daughter's babygrow, as if to make sure that she was still there with him. She was a lot more emotional about it than she expected and she knew that she already loved both of them more than she could ever put into words.

"I'm going to keep you safe." She whispered. "The world isn't going to hurt you like it hurt me. I'm going to protect you from everything that could hurt you. I'm going to raise you up rather than pull you down. You two are going to be whatever you want to be. The world is going to be yours. And I'm going to support you every step of the way."

She knew that, in a moment, the nurse would be back to take them to the nursery and just the thought of that killed her. And that was who she thought was coming when she heard the footsteps approaching her. So it was a pleasant surprise to see PC Bell when she reached Amanda's bed.

"How are you?" PC Bell said.

"Exhausted still," Amanda said.

"I think you are going to be that way for a while."

"What's going to happen?"

PC Bell looked thoughtful for a moment as she looked down at the twins. "We've been doing some asking around. We are just putting it all together and, hopefully soon, you will be released back into the safehouse. Then we can get on with the trial date and all that. We need to think a little more long term though, Amanda. You can't live in the safehouse… once we are finished with you."

"I don't have anything though. The twins and a few belongings. It's not like I've got the money to put a deposit down on a flat."

"Hence why we need to sort something out." She said, looking up at Amanda. "You aren't being homeless with the twins. I won't allow it." She paused. "I'm sorry. For not believing you. About you not being involved."

"Yeah, well… I think I have some people who want to stab me in the back. I wouldn't put it past Tess Doyle."

PC Bell gave her a small smile and Amanda wondered whether she had actually hit the nail on the head and that was the person who had accused her.

"I'm coming off my shift. So someone else will be along soon to make sure you don't… do a runner. Although, I don't know how you will with these two. It's better than us handcuffing you to the bed."

"Can't I just promise that I won't?"

"We are meant to err on the side of caution. Sorry."

Amanda nodded and PC Bell left her after giving the twins one last glance. She found herself looking down at her twins again and knew that she wouldn't be in the position that she was currently in without PC Katie Bell. And Amanda wasn't sure how she could ever thank her.

2010

When Kim had mentioned that one of the guest speakers was a PI Katie Bell, Rachel had a feeling that it was the same person that she had met all those years ago. It was why she made sure that she was out in the foyer to greet the guest speakers and point the returning students in the right direction. And she knew that Eddie knew that she was a little distracted.

The only reason she hadn't said anything was because she knew that there might be a chance that she was wrong. She had been before. And her face had dropped when she realised that it wasn't the person that she thought it was.

But the moment the woman in uniform walked into the foyer, Rachel knew that she was her and she excused herself from the conversation to walk over to her. With every step that she took, she felt more apprehensive. Even if she knew that she had taken the opportunity that was fought for her by a young PC Bell with both hands.

"PC Bell?" Rachel said, smiling as the woman turned towards her.

"Amanda? Amanda Fenshaw?"

"It's Rachel Mason now. Like you are an inspector now."

"Oh wow." PI Bell said with a laugh. "You did really take the opportunity and ran with it."

"So thank you for giving it to me."

"How long has it been? How old are the twins?"

"They were 19 October just gone. It makes me feel old as well. Even if I have only just hit 40." Rachel paused. "Actually they should be here soon. The moment they hear that I need some help, they are the first to volunteer. They've pretty much organised the student side of this day today. All while finishing up their first year at uni."

"You obviously raised them well then."

"It hasn't always been… plain sailing. Some things happened that I wished didn't."

"Like what?"

Rachel knew that, at some point, she would have to work out why explaining Robert and what happened would cause her throat to go dry and her heart constrict in her chest. Time and finding Eddie hadn't helped. In fact, Rachel was worried that it had only made things worse.

She had wanted to give PI Bell some reply but her eye caught James and Amelia walking into the foyer, with Amelia giving her an awkward wave. Rachel gestured for them to come over, seeing that both of them were confused and apprehensive as they did walk over.

"Oh God, they have grown up haven't they?" PI Bell said as the twins joined them.

James gave Rachel a look to say 'who the hell is this?' and she only smiled at him.

"This is PI Katie Bell," Rachel explained. "She umm… Well, I don't think I would have had the opportunities that I had and was willing to take without her by my side." She turned to PI Bell. "I do owe you a lot."

"Yeah, well, I wish everyone was a success story like yours." PI Bell said before she turned to James. "James, you were the first baby that I ever delivered. For some reason that made me more than qualified to deliver another eight more."

"Wait, what?" James said. "Mum's never mentioned that before."

"And I still remember the look on that midwife's face." PI Bell continued. "The look of relief to horror when I told her it was twins."

Rachel laughed. "I don't think she wanted to be there."

"No, she didn't. But the two that we usually called on, at the time, were already out, attending other births. She was the last one that we wanted to come in. But she was the only one available at the time. Honestly, the next time I had to get a midwife into one of the prisons, I had to specifically ask for not her."

"Wait, were we born in prison?" Amelia asked. "Is that why we've never seen our birth certificates and you 'couldn't' find them when we had that project at school?"

"I was still trying to hide everything from you then." Rachel said.

"It was only because of a bit of a misunderstanding and your mother being falsely accused." PI Bell said. "Although, I am intrigued to know whether James looks anything like his father as much as Amelia looks like you. Especially when we first met."

Rachel glanced over her shoulder, gesturing with her head for Eddie to join them once she had his attention. And seeing PI Bell after all those years only made Rachel feel more apprehensive that she could do that. That she had the family that she had always dreamt of.

"I'll let you be the judge of that." Rachel said before Eddie arrived at her side. "This is Eddie Lawson. My fiance and the twins' father. As well as being my deputy." She turned up to look at Eddie. "Eddie, this is PI Katie Bell. She helped me out after I was arrested and helped me to get the opportunity so I could… be here, I suppose."

The rest of the conversation was something that they didn't get to as Kim interrupted them to say that they probably should start to think about making sure that they were all ready to start, saying a quick hello to the twins before pulling them towards the hall to show them where they would be.

Eddie gave her a smile when she looked up at him, with her knowing that they could continue the conversation later. Which did happen and Rachel was greeted with the reaction that she expected when she told PI Bell about certain things. But with her card and a promise of trying to keep in touch or to just be a direct line to the police if she ever needed one, Rachel only hoped that she had got across that she was so grateful she was for all the help that PI Bell had given her 19 odd years ago. Because without that chance, Rachel was sure she wouldn't have had half of what she did.