Eight Weeks Later

"Auntie Julie!" Rhiannon launched herself at her aunt as Amanda came through the crowd of passengers a little behind her with Katie. Julie lifted her eldest niece into her arms and balanced her on her hip as she waited for her sister-in-law and second niece to catch up. The blonde haired woman towed a couple of suitcases behind her while the smaller child haphazardly dragged a small 'Barbie' case along. Amanda smiled as she spotted Julie hugging her niece as tightly as she could. They'd been gone for nearly five years and had only come back home to visit on three occasions in all that time. Julie had made an effort to speak to the girls on the phone and sent them frequent parcels and gifts but Rhiannon was the only one old enough to understand or properly remember who her aunt was.

"Julie! What a welcome sight." Amanda greeted her sister-in-law enthusiastically. They had always got along well and Julie had been over the moon when Robert had proposed to her nearly ten years ago.

"How was yer flight?" Julie asked the blonde as she noticed the tiredness etched on her face.

"Long. The girls were good though. Thanks again for meeting us." Julie put a reluctant Rhiannon on the ground and picked up one of the suitcases instead. Rhiannon immediately grabbed hold of her aunt's free hand and squashed herself into her side. "Someone's missed their auntie!" Rhiannon looked between the adults with a grin and nodded enthusiastically.

"I'm sure the novelty will soon wear off, especially living under the same roof fer a while." They started to walk over to the taxi rank at the other end of the arrivals lounge.

"I really do appreciate it you know. Mum only has the one room and she's not as well as she could be. Having two kids running around all day and night would be too stressful for her." The two women talked as they walked with the suitcases and girls in tow.

"It's no problem at all. Mam's got a feast fer you all when we get back 'ome and yer rooms are already made up." They waited at the taxi rank for a lift back to Julie's childhood home. Amanda put the suitcases down and hugged her sister-in-law tightly.

"I'm sorry that the circumstances couldn't have been better. Brenda and Eddie are so very kind to put us up. I would have understood if they hadn't offered." Julie hugged back and felt a pang of anger at her brother for letting things get this bad.

"I'm just sorry that me brother's a bit of a twat. Don't get me wrong, I love 'im but I can't believe 'e let you and the girls slip through 'is fingers so easily." Julie had always craved that someone special to share her life with, whether she had understood her feelings in the past or not, and her brother's recent attitude had disappointed her greatly. Especially as on some level, which she reluctantly admitted to, she had quite looked up to him.

"Don't think too badly of him, it takes two to make a marriage work or fail." Amanda was the sort of person who saw things fairly and tried to see the best in all people.

"I understand that, but he didn't have ter use me as a bargaining tool! I'm so sorry about that, I never would 'ave wanted to see you separated from yer kids."

"I know that Julie, you've always been there for us." They'd only had to wait ten minutes before a taxi pulled up beside them and Amanda flagged it down. "Here's to new beginnings."

Monday soon rolled around and Julie walked through the large ring-fenced gates as she finished off her second fag of the morning. She slowed to a meander as her eyes scoured the sea of factory workers for that one special someone. Suddenly the blonde came into view from the other side of the gate and Julie beamed at her as she walked over to meet her. Vicky spotted her girlfriend straight away, having been looking out for her too. They met halfway and fell into step up the road towards the factory entrance. They discreetly clasped hands and spoke quietly and intimately underneath all the frivolous chatter from their colleagues about their weekends.

"I've missed you." Vicky spoke first, so completely unafraid of expressing her emotions to the younger woman. Julie was still unused to voicing her feelings to someone aloud, having kept them bottled up for so long.

"Me too." They hadn't had long before they needed to separate and get to work but it was enough to ensure that they were both alright after their weekend of separation. Vicky had been well informed of Amanda's arrival after she had finally separated from Julie's brother Robert and that she had been invited to stay with her in-laws until she could find somewhere more permanent to live. Julie had told her how her mother had been more than excited by her new house guests and Vicky could tell that Julie wasn't too upset at being so close to her long-missed nieces either.

"Talk later?" Vicky suggested and Julie nodded before catching up with some other friends. They had got into a routine of sharing their morning and afternoon fag breaks and had found a quiet spot around the back of the factory to have a private moment or two together. Vicky felt a little uncomfortable around the others when in Julie's presence, not Susie, Hannah or Jenny but mostly Freda. She hadn't been quite as welcoming as the other girls and looked at her like she'd done something wrong. Vicky had been nothing but nice to everyone, so couldn't quite put her finger on what it could be. Still, it was no skin off her nose and who Julie chose to spend her time with was her own decision.

At 11am Julie disappeared off on her break first while Vicky went to the loo and grabbed a cup of tea. They met a few minutes later out the back just to the left of the bins. Vicky put her mug down on a ledge and smiled shyly at the brunette puffing away on her cigarette against the wall.

"Hello." The blonde greeted her lover, almost as though they hadn't seen each other earlier or hadn't been sitting a few yards from each other all morning.

"'ello." Julie finished her fag and reached for Vicky. The kissed like it had been the two days they'd been apart. It was the longest they'd gone without seeing each other since they had got together nearly two months ago. They had begun reasonably slowly but once Julie had gained some confidence in herself and in that Vicky wasn't going to run away, she had relaxed and things had progressed well between them. Julie had even stopped over at Vicky's the odd night here and there.

"D'yer want to come round to mine tonight? Grab a takeaway, perhaps stay over?" Julie's face fell and she shook her head sadly.

"I'd love to but I said that I'd watch the girls fer Amanda while she visits her mum." Vicky looked as disappointed as Julie felt.

"Can't yer mum look after them?" Julie shook her head.

"Bridge night and Dad's on lates this week." Vicky nuzzled at Julie's neck, conscious that their break was rapidly coming to an end.

"How about tomorrow? I know it's aerobics day but I've missed you." Julie's enjoyment of the attention she was receiving might have had something to do with her enthusiastic response.

"Oh…yes, that's great! I'm sure Freda won't mind, just this once." They were about to go into another round of kissing when a voice from behind startled them.

"Freda won't mind what?" The woman in question asked from the fire escape door having caught her friend and colleague in a compromising position. Vicky blushed and chuckled lightly but Julie looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"It's not what it looks like…!" Julie began to explain in her defence but Vicky grabbed hold of her hand and squeezed it gently to stop her. She was well aware that Julie had no reason to apologise or explain her actions.

"Oh I think it's exactly what it looks like." Freda squared up to Vicky and stuck out an accusatory finger at her. "I knew your game as soon as you walked out onto the shop floor with Julie on yer first day. Taking advantage of a vulnerable young woman, you should be ashamed of yerself." Julie looked between the two women in confusion.

"Yer what?!" she spoke aloud by accident.

"I don't think you're giving Julie much credit to make her own decisions there. I've neither forced nor coerced her into doing anything she doesn't want to do."

"Well, she weren't 'that way' before you came along!" Julie looked at her friend incredulously but she was scared to speak up at the same time. Once she had said the words aloud she wouldn't be able to take them back. Vicky gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and Julie decided that she was going to be brave for once.

"You know that's not true Freda. I might not have said it explicitly but you've always known… You've always known that I'm gay." There, it was out and Julie felt a rush of adrenaline, some of it fear but another part was relief that the burden of her secret was no longer entirely on her shoulders.

"But that was all just theory, until the right man came along surely? This is real life." Vicky stood quietly holding Julie's hand in support but she almost said something when Freda had said that. Did people really still think that these days? She'd had her own fair share of reactions when she first came out but this was two thousand and two!

"Of course it's real! And 'vulnerable?' I might be a bit inexperienced and naïve but I'm certainly not vulnerable. I know exactly what I'm doing and I choose to be with Vicky. She makes me happy." Surely her friend had noticed that these past few weeks?

"She's old enough to be your…well a lot older than you anyway. She ought to have known better." Vicky looked up at Julie's long-time friend sadly.

"I care very much for Julie and I wouldn't do anything to hurt her. I'm just sorry you don't seem to feel the same way." The bell shrilled and it signified the end of their mid-morning break. Freda started to walk away and back down the fire escape but stopped to turn around and deliver a parting shot.

"This isn't over." It was angry more than venomous and Vicky tried to persuade Julie that she was just in shock over everything and that they would be friends again soon enough. Julie wasn't quite so sure and once she was back at her machine she worried herself into a state. What exactly did Freda mean and what was she going to do with her new found discovery, despite their friendship?

As soon as the bell went for lunch, Julie attempted to speak to Freda before she could disappear. The older woman ignored her and made her way to the canteen with Jenny and Susie as usual. Vicky waited behind for a few minutes to see if Julie was okay.

"Are you alright?" Julie shrugged off the comforting hand Vicky had placed on her shoulder.

"She hates me." Vicky's momentary hurt disappeared and instead she sat Julie down at one of the machines closest to them.

"Give 'er time, if she's as good a friend as you deserve then she'll come round."

"What if she doesn't?" The usually bubbly younger woman seemed more despondent than Vicky had seen her before.

"I'm sure she will but if not, then that's not your fault and it will be her loss." Julie thought about it for a moment and steeled herself to get up and go to lunch.

"I suppose you're right. Come on, I'm starving!" They left the deserted factory floor and made their way to the canteen. As soon as they walked in the buzzing atmosphere came to a deadly silent halt and all eyes were trained on the latecomers. It wasn't unusual for there to be stragglers so it was pretty obvious that it was their particular entrance which had got their colleagues attention. Julie felt completely out of her depth and knew instantly that Freda must have said something. She turned to bolt out of the canteen but was stopped by Vicky. She leaned over and whispered in Julie's ear.

"Let's do this, let's be brave and stand up fer ourselves." Julie looked at her doubtfully and whispered back as her voice cracked.

"I don't want to be brave." Gradually people started chatting amongst themselves once again but Julie got the distinct feeling that she was still being watched. She and Vicky lined up to get their lunch in silence. Once their trays were full they headed for their usual table with Freda, Susie, Hannah and Jenny. Their spaces were still available but Freda scowled at them as they tried to sit down.

"What!?" Julie sniped at Freda.

"I'm not sure I want to share a table with you two." Freda sniped back at her and shot a scathing look at Vicky.

"What 'ave we done that's so wrong?" Julie was fed up with this palaver now and sat down anyway, Vicky quickly followed suit.

"Let them have their lunch in peace." Susie piped up in defence of her friend and she smiled at Julie hoping to reassure her.

"Just remember that she's been looking after kids, including your Ryan, and kept this a secret from us all."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Julie was shocked by the direction in which the conversation had turned.

"If you don't know then you're even more 'naïve' than I thought." Freda had clearly had enough and got up from the table, scraping her chair on the floor as she did so. Julie's eyes brimmed with tears and Vicky reached out and clasped her hand in comfort. Jenny and Susie's eyes fell on where their hands touched and they couldn't help but gawp for a few moments.

"So it's true then?" Susie addressed Julie and the brunette looked up at her friend with such sadness on her face.

"Yeah, you might as well say your piece now, while everyone else is taking their pot shots."

"I don't hate you Julie, I'm shocked, but I don't hate you. Or you Vicky. It's not going to be easy but if this is what you both want then I'm happy for you."

Julie had just got back to her machine after the rather awkward lunch break when Mack came striding out of his office and onto the shop floor. All the girls sat up and took notice as he walked right up to Julie.

"A word in my office please?" He didn't look too happy, although it was a rare sight to see a smile from him anyway. Julie gulped with nervousness and wondered if she was about to get her marching orders. Nothing would surprise her now. He offered her a seat in the chair opposite his desk. "I've been informed of some gossip that has been going around the factory today. Now I don't care what you do in your private life as long as it stays private, but when it involves another member of my staff I need to know that it's not going to affect your work." Julie looked down at her feet in embarrassment as her personal life was the last thing she had wanted to discuss with her boss.

"Yes Mack, of course it won't. When have I ever let you down before?" She knew that he valued her as a member of staff and she hated the thought that he would potentially think badly of her.

"That's what I thought. On a personal note, off the record, it's true then? That you're a…you know and Vicky…." Julie sighed and wondered if this was something she was going to have to get used to now.

"It's true, Vicky and I are seeing each other." It still sounded foreign to her ears and Julie briefly wondered if she would get used to being one half of a couple.

"Good…good…I mean not good, but not bad…if you know what I mean?" It was obvious that despite his curiosity, her boss didn't really know what to say in this situation.

"Not really Mack." The gruff factory owner swallowed down his machismo and said what he felt for once.

"Yer a good lass Julie, you deserve to be happy and Vicky seems..nice." In truth he had barely registered who Vicky was but he'd known Julie a long time and she was one of his best and most reliable workers.

"Thanks, that means a lot."

As Julie got her belongings together to leave for the evening, a steady stream of her colleagues approached her. At first she was worried that they were going to say something horrible and Vicky hovered in the background to keep an eye out for her girlfriend. But every single one offered their support and conspiratorially acknowledged that they had a brother, uncle, niece or son who was also gay. She had been rather overwhelmed by it all and felt quite shaken by the events of the day as a whole.

Later That Night

Brenda pottered about in the kitchen as she made dinner for herself, Julie and her granddaughters. Julie had plonked herself in front of the television with the girls and had barely moved or said a word since she'd come home from work.

"Julie…?" Brenda called out to her daughter from the kitchen.

"Yeah Mum?" Rhiannon caught Julie's eye-roll and giggled conspiratorially with her aunt before she turned her attention back to the children's program.

"Can you set the table for me love?" Julie sighed deeply as she got up to go to the kitchen. She'd just about got comfortable and had tried to put today's events to the back of her mind for a while. Brenda handed her daughter the cutlery and continued with the meal as Julie got to work. "You're quiet this evening love, has anything happened at work?" Julie stopped dead in her tracks and wondered if someone had got to her mum before she had come home.

"Why, has someone said something?" Both Susie and Freda had met her mother and had her home phone number so it was possible, although she couldn't believe that Freda would have been as malicious as that and Susie had said that she was okay with it earlier.

"No. Has something happened?" Damn, now her mum knew that something was up.

"It's nothing I can't handle." Julie thought that she had passed it off as nothing to worry about quite well and if questioned further she would say that she'd had a row with someone. It's not like it would have been the first time, she remembered her scrap with Steve's wife a couple of years ago well enough.

"Julie, if something's wrong you can tell me love." Julie knew that her mum was only being helpful and kind but she had no idea about the secret that Julie was hiding from her. Something that she was so afraid to talk to her mother about out of fear of being rejected she couldn't even look her in the eye.

"It's fine, it'll blow over in a day or two." Hopefully her mum would buy it, for the time being at least.

"Well, if you're sure?" Julie nodded and finished setting the table.

Once the girls were in bed and asleep Julie called Vicky as she needed someone to talk to about everything that had happened.

"This is why I never said anything before. Is it always this hard?" Vicky sighed for a moment and chose her words carefully. She didn't want to lie to her girlfriend but she didn't want to scare her either.

"Sometimes. I fell out with some friends in the early days, but most of them came round in the end, once they'd seen how much happier I was." Vicky had her legs tucked up under her as she sat on the settee. She would much rather Julie was sitting next to her but she knew that she had missed her nieces terribly and was only too happy to babysit whenever her sister-in-law needed her to.

"And what about the ones who didn't come round?" Julie wasn't so naïve to think that she wouldn't lose a single friend or colleague over this, let alone how her family might react.

"It's their loss. If they can't accept you for who you are then they're not worthy of your friendship in the first place." And Vicky had learned that lesson well enough.

"I wish it were as easy as that. I thought someone had said something to Mam earlier, she asked if something had happened today." Julie ran her fingers through her hair as the weariness over the whole thing settled over her.

"Perhaps you ought to think about telling your parents, before someone else does get to them. It would be better if it came straight from you rather than finding out second hand." Unbeknownst to Julie, Brenda had come home and had hung her coat up on the peg beside the door. When she had heard Julie on the phone to someone her natural nosiness piqued and she listened carefully just outside the living room.

"I wouldn't know how to tell them, it's not something that has ever come up." Julie had already started to rehearse what she could say to them in her head but dismissed every conversation and decided to put it off for another day. There was always another day and the truth was that if she could put it off forever she would have done.

"I'm sure you'll find the right words sweetheart. Perhaps it will be easier if they met me and saw for themselves that I'm not an ogre or have a shockingly short haircut, wear ripped jeans and doctor martins?" Julie laughed out loud.

"Somehow I don't think what you wear would be the problem." Vicky chuckled back at her down the line.

"No, I suppose not. Don't worry too much about it, tomorrow's another day and they'll soon find something else to gossip about." Vicky hadn't been at Mackintosh's long but places like that were all the same, they practically ran on gossip and there was always something new to talk about.

"Probably. I'm sorry but I think I should turn in. I love you." There was silence at the other end of the phone for a moment.

"I…wow! That was unexpected." Vicky's breath had caught in her throat at the declaration.

"What?" Julie genuinely hadn't realised what had made Vicky sound so surprised.

"It's the first time you've said that to me." The older woman's delight was clear in her voice.

"Is it? I've meant to say it before, lots of times. I think I just overthought it." It was true and Julie felt slightly embarrassed that the declaration hadn't been more ceremonious.

"Well I love you too, very much so and you can say it to me any time you like." They wrapped up their goodbyes as Brenda grinned from ear to ear and drew her own conclusions after hearing the one-sided conversation.