A/N

OK, so after the intensity of the last chapter (well it was intense for me anyway) I decided to dial it down a bit. One of the things I've noticed about the truly talented writers on here, Hyper, Trufreak, Circle42, MoaningMyrtle and the like is that they use their own particular talents and skills to colour the story. It makes for brilliant reading and of course, they have all the knowledge at their fingertips (or in the case of Myrtle, up her sleeve) Well. I have never been in prison, so that's gone out of the window. But I do play guitar, so you may find some references here that sound smart arse. Sorry, it's the best I can do!

So,

Emily

Standing outside Naomi's house is weird. I've decided that. Its a quite ordinary yellow fronted chalet type house. I suppose strictly speaking it's her mums house. But it's where Naomi grew up, went to school from and left to make her way in the world when she finished education. But I know absolutely nothing about this life. Her mum is a stranger to me. It's only that Effy has told Gina I'm coming which has made this trip possible. I vaguely remember, after that kiss, seeing Naoms on a yellow bus on her way to a school the other side of Bristol once. But at that time I was so deep in denial about the importance of what we had shared that I put my head down and pretended I hadn't seen her. And of course, my fucking permabitch sister had been with me, so it wouldn't have mattered anyway. I had concurred with her version of events so eagerly that everyone I knew thought I had been narrowly saved by Katie from a fate worse than death at the hands of Superlezza. The fact that I had been an willing (no, be honest Emily, fucking eager ) participant in our little clinch was conveniently forgotten by everyone. Well, everyone except me and Naomi of course. The death stare from the bus was evidence of that.

I had parked my car a couple of houses further away to get myself ready for this meeting. Once I was standing outside I took a deep breath, walked up the steps to the door and knocked. There was a low rumbling crash from inside, followed by a female shout of "For fucks sake Kieran, Hurley sticks in the doorway is NOT a good idea!" I grinned to myself. If this was Gina, she wasn't a shrinking violet at least...

The door opened, and a slightly flustered older version of Naomi stood there. OK. She wasn't exactly a platinum blonde, more light brown, irregularly cut. But those eyes were unmistakeable. Ice blue, with black rings round the iris. The sort of eyes I had been having wet dreams about for weeks now (Stop it Emily, its Naomi's MUM ffs)

She grinned a natural, open grin. Said simply "You must be Emily, love. You're even prettier than I expected" and pulled the door wide for me to walk in. Except an even more flustered man stopped me in my tracks as he barged past us both, weird shaped hockey stick in his hand and an emerald green Ireland training jacket on. His hair was even messier than Gina's and he had what seemed to be a permanent puzzled expression on his face. I thought for a second about Father Dougal in that old Irish priest sitcom and barely suppressed a giggle. If he had said "Right So Ted.." I might have wet myself on my girlfriends mum's porch.

Gina cuffed him good naturedly on the head as he passed, but his expression never flickered. "Bye then my love" he said as he fled down the garden path "Oh, and Hello Emily!"

I muttered some sort of response, but Gina shushed me and led me into the kitchen. It was a big cluttered space. A huge 10 seater pine table dominated the room. It seemed incongruous in this place, which evidently only had two occupants at the moment, but I took one of the multitude of chairs and sat down to have a chat to my beloveds Mum.

"Right" she said cheerily as I sat there. "Tea?"

"Yes please Mrs Campbell" I said politely

"Mrs Campbell is my mum" she grinned "I'm Gina to everyone, even my wayward daughter" I saw a shadow of something pass over her face and realised that her sunny disposition wasn't quite Naomi proof.

Once we had got a large mug of tea in front of us both she looked at me keenly. I realised that Naomi's fierce intelligence was inherited. This woman was no fool.

"So Emily" she said "Tell me why my daughter has finally allowed me back in her life. Oh, and tell me what part you intend to play in her future?"For a small moment, I considered spouting some platitude about Naomi's welfare and me feeling responsible for her, but I saw that she would never wear anything resembling bullshit, so I settled for

"I love her Gina, and I am going to get her out of there, with your help"

Her smile was broader this time and she placed a work hardened palm over my hand as it sat on the thick pine table.

"I love her too, silly little cow" she said with not a trace of malice "And its about time she met someone who really cares about her, apart from me that is"

"Don't get me wrong,love" she said, face serious for a second. This is going to be hard as hell for both of us. But if you genuinely do love my daughter, I can promise you she will give you back more love than any other human being on the planet could"

She took a deep breath and continued " When she was little..." and her eyes went to a photo frame on the dresser, of a young Naomi, probably 7 or 8, sitting on the draining board in this house, by the looks of it, a cheeky grin on her little face.

"...She was my treasure. There wasn't a sunnier, happier, more loving little girl anywhere. But when she was about 12, something happened, I don't know what, and she changed, became defensive, closed off. I suppose I lost her, and I never really got her back"

Her face clouded with the memory and I saw her eyes go bright with tears. To be honest, I could feel myself going a bit too, so when she gripped my hand hard, I gulped the emotion down and squeezed back.

"Gina?" I said "Lets concentrate on one thing at a time. I think there is something that smells totally rancid about her conviction, and I'm going to find out what. And what's more I'm going to do whatever I have to to get her out of there, and back here where she belongs"

I thought it was quite a good little speech, but Gina trumped it.

"Oh no, Emily" she said, her voice firm and definite "Not here. This will always be her home, but the fact that you are sitting here now, added to the fact that Effy seems to think you are quite something special, tells me when you DO get my daughter away from that place, there's only one place she will want to be. With you"

She looked at me directly, and I nodded slowly. "Yeah, that's how I feel too. Thank you for understanding

"Shhh" she said "I think we're going to be friends"

I nodded again "I think so too" I said

And so we were. The next hour passed pleasantly. Naomi would have hated it, but I got to see all the childhood photos. School shots of a slightly goofy 12 year old with plaits, seaside pictures of her with an oversized kite. Naomi with Gina, with a small Jack Russell terrier, with another dark haired girl when she was about 16 (Abby, Gina told me conspiratorially, her first love) I felt a pang at that one. Actually, I said tartly, I think I was her first love. We both burst out laughing at my indignation. I explained about the kiss, and Gina agreed that maybe I was the first after all...

I gave her all the details of the day parole application and she filled it in with my help. I sealed the envelope and tucked it in my bag. I wasn't going to trust the bloody Post Office with something as important as my loves liberty. This envelope was going straight in the admin pile I would open first thing tomorrow. And I would be signing it about 10 seconds later.

I finally left just as Kieran returned. Muddy knees, blackened eye and even dirtier than he left

"Hi Emily" he said brightly as he passed me. "Lovely to meet you"

I grinned at Gina as she cuffed him on the way in and, as he clumped upstairs, hopefully to a bathroom, I went to shake her hand goodbye.

"Fuck off" she said amiably "Give me a hug. You're practically family now"

I did. It was a genuine, mums type hug, and part of me wished my own mum had been this free with her affection.

As I sat in the car, checking my bag, just in case, to make sure the day out application was safely in there, I had a terrible thought.

Fuck. Katie. Home tonight. Shit! I'd totally forgotten she was due home today. I groaned inwardly at the prospect of her giving me chapter and verse about her latest squeeze and his no doubt magical ability between the sheets. Oh God, I thought. A night in with Katie Fitch. Way to kill a mood Ems.

I took a deep breath and braced myself mentally. Bang goes the midnight sex text. Katie would only just be getting into her stride by then. And what was she going to have to say about Danny boy, much less my budding romance with a convicted felon. Tonight was going to be interesting, that's for sure.

The drive back to my flat was a bit less pleasant than the outward journey. When I got back, thank God she hadn't yet descended on my place. I quickly thumbed a text to Naoms, explaining things and saying I would talk to her in the morning.

There was nothing more to so. I opened a bottle of Chablis, hid my best chocolate and braced myself for the imminent arrival of Hurricane Katie...

A/N

Just a short one this. Don't worry, sibling angst, plenty of sex and rock and roll next. Oh, and the guitar bit too.

Katie Fucking Fitch, can't wait to write her!

Review you mad people, I need the positive energy...