Welcome and thank you to everyone who's added this to their list.

CHAPTER TWO

Sutton stood next to the trailer in the flickering firelight. She was bored. So bored she was actually drinking a bottle of soda, without a straw. She glanced over to where Emma and Ethan and Mads and Jordan were dancing by the fire, a boombox that Ethan had balanced on a nearby chair providing them with the music. Even more sickening were Thayer and Laurel, who were stood a short distance away from the group, emerged in a conversation that seemed to consist largely of laughing, jostling and sticking their tongues down each other's throats.

"Feeling like a seventh wheel?"Dan asked as he joined her, bottle of beer in hand.

Sutton gave him a suitably severe glare. "I'm not the one who's being forced out of his home by a bunch of teenagers."

"I'll get my own back. Friday night I'm going to invite the boys from the station round for beers and force Ethan to join us."

Sutton looked impressed. "Officer Whitehorse, there is a crafty streak to you that I never noticed before."

"Well, coming from a master such as yourself, I feel flattered."

Emma and Ethan detached themselves from the group and approached their two siblings. "We're going to scoot off now,"Emma explained.

"I'm giving Emma a lift home,"Ethan added.

Sutton raised both her eyebrows. "Well, I guess I'll see you there then."

Sutton and Dan watched and waited as the pair clambered onto Ethan's bike. "You reckon he's coming back tonight?"Dan asked.

Sutton sighed. "Even bet, I think."

Ted rubbed his face wearily as he entered the hospital canteen. Night shifts always seemed to last a long time and he was only halfway through this one. He was heading towards a coffee machine when a voice from a nearby table called "Hi, Ted." He looked round to find Rebecca sitting there, smiling her sweetest smile. She gestured to the chair opposite her and the cup resting in front of it. "I got you a coffee."

Slightly self-conscious but not having any reason to refuse, Ted sat down where she'd indicated and took a cautious drink from the coffee cup. "Rebecca, what are you doing here?"he asked.

"Just thought there were a few things we've never managed to discuss. Emma. Sutton. Emma and Sutton."

Ted sighed. He'd hoped he wouldn't have to have this conversation again but perhaps it was inevitable. "Look, I had no idea what Alec was planning. If I'd known there were twins, then I don't know what I'd have done but I'd have tried to keep them together somehow or at least made sure I was in contact with them both…"

Rebecca placed a hand over his consolingly. Even though he thought it was probably the sensible thing to do, he didn't pull away. "I understand, Ted. Really I do. I'm just glad that one of our girls got to grow up with you in her life." She sighed heavily. "I just wish I could be part of their lives too."

Ted shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sorry I accused you of being a murderer, I'm sure the girls are too. They'll come around eventually."

"Not while Kristin's around they won't."

"She's been a good mother to Sutton,"Ted pointed out. "Emma too."

"But I want a chance to be a mother to them as well! They're the only children I'm ever likely to have, you know what that feels like. Couldn't you put in a word with them?"

"I'm not sure…"

"Or…maybe if the two of us spent time together and they saw that, they'd think it was okay to do the same?"

Ted hesitated. He didn't love Rebecca but he knew she loved him. He had a feeling Kristin still loved him too but she didn't trust him. They might be friends one day but their marriage seemed to be over. Was it worth taking a risk on Rebecca?

"Maybe,"he offered. He checked his watch. "I need to get back to work."

Laurel and Thayer were kissing as they entered the flat Laurel shared with Ted, arms wrapped around each other. Thayer disengaged from the kiss, looking around awkwardly. "You're sure your dad isn't going to come home?"

"He's not going to be back until morning,"Laurel assured him. "I have this place, and you, all to myself tonight." She kissed him again. "I think you know the way." She slinked over to her bedroom and leaned in the door frame, grinning broadly.

Thayer looked away from her for a moment, leaning against the back of the couch, a pang of guilt at the memory that he'd gone to bed with Rebecca just that afternoon. Then, as he often seemed to do when Laurel was around, he pushed all thoughts of Rebecca to the back of his mind. He took Laurel's hand and let her lead him into her room.

Emma and Ethan walked down the steps into the Mercer house living area and paused. "So, er, what do we do now?"Ethan asked.

Emma shrugged. "Well, I guess you could get back on your bike and head home." She smiled nervously and took his hands. He leaned down and kissed her softly.

Kristin emerged from her room and they hastily sprang apart. "Sorry, I heard voices and thought I'd check it was you. Is Sutton not with you?"

Emma shook her head. "No, I left early, Ethan gave me a lift home."

"Well, I'm sure she'll be home shortly." Kristin regarded her surrogate daughter's boyfriend. "Will you be joining us for breakfast, Ethan?"

Ethan was stunned by the indirect directness of the question. "I'm not sure."

"I'm sure we can find something if you do." Kristin had headed to the fridge as she spoke, pouring herself a glass of milk, before heading back in the direction of her room. "I'll see you in the morning."

Emma and Ethan stared after her. "What was that?"Ethan asked.

"I think,"Emma attempted,"she just gave you permission to stay over."

Ethan looked at her questioningly and Emma nodded, taking his hand and leading him into her room. She stood next to her bed nervously. Somehow this felt like new territory, as if having her boyfriend stay over meant…what? That there relationship was accepted? No, more than that. That if her relationship was accepted then so was she, as a part of the household, of the family?

She pushed those thoughts out of her mind, to ponder later. For now, her focus was on Ethan. She unbuttoned his shirt and he took her in his arms and kissed her softly before lowering her onto the bed.

Sutton waved, with a fixed smile on her face, as Jordan and Mads drove off. "And then there was one," she sighed.

"Two,"Dan reminded her.

"Do you actually count?"

Dan shrugged. "So, are you okay to get home on your own?"

"Yeah, I'm kind of used to it."

"I've got to say I'm impressed with you."

Sutton looked at him in surprise. "You are?"

"Yeah. I mean, the old Sutton, seeing all those people enjoying themselves without her, she'd have been forcing her way in, messing things up for them. You handled it well. You've changed."

"Well…I got fed up of everyone thinking of me as the evil twin."

"No-one's gonna think that now."

"Good." Sutton looked at him awkwardly. "And I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you last year. I guess I wasn't really thinking about the guy that'd have to clear up the mess."

"Well, you are now. That's the main thing." Dan gave her a brief hug. He pulled back but didn't entirely remove his arms from around her. Instead, he looked her in the eye, wondering if she'd felt the same spark that he had. Her expression suggested she had. He raised a hand to gently stroke her face. When she didn't object, he kissed her softly on the lips.

Sutton smiled, put her arms round his neck and softly returned the kiss. His arms encircled her waist as they continue softly kissing, slowly walking towards the trailer. Neither of them thought about what they were doing, knowing that if they did they'd manage to talk themselves out of it. Instead, they just continued kissing as they headed inside.